Small Australian Tunneler vs Australian Flower Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Small Australian Tunneler Australian Flower Wasp
Scientific Name Onthophagus parvus Campsomeris tasmaniensis
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Scoliidae
Size 4-6 mm 15-25 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Dung Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Australia Australia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Small Australian Tunneler

A tiny, brown tunneling dung beetle native to Australia. It is one of the few native Australian species adapted to process the dry, pellet-like dung of marsupials. Found in eucalyptus woodland across the continent.

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Did You Know?

Native Australian dung beetles evolved with marsupial pellet dung and were ill-equipped to handle the wet dung of introduced cattle.

Australian Flower Wasp

A hairy black and orange scoliid wasp endemic to Australia. Males patrol flowers while females dig into soil to parasitize curl grub beetle larvae.

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Did You Know?

Males are commonly seen hovering over lawns in large numbers, searching for females emerging from underground.