Pecuarius Onitis vs Ant-Nest Hister Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Pecuarius Onitis | Ant-Nest Hister Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Onitis pecuarius | Hetaerius ferrugineus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Histeridae |
| Size | 12-20 mm | 1.5-2.5 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Woodlands |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Detritivores |
| Regions | Southern Africa, introduced to Australia | Europe, North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Pecuarius Onitis
A medium-sized, dark brown to black tunneling dung beetle with strong forelegs. It is a nocturnal species that constructs deep burrows. Successfully introduced to Australia from southern Africa as a dung management agent.
Did You Know?
In Australia, this beetle became most active during winter months, filling an important seasonal gap in dung burial activity.
Ant-Nest Hister Beetle
A tiny, reddish-brown hister beetle that lives exclusively inside ant nests. It is tolerated by its ant hosts and feeds on detritus and small arthropods.
Did You Know?
It produces appeasement chemicals from thoracic glands that prevent ants from attacking it inside the colony.