Small Australian Tunneler vs Bald-faced Hornet
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Small Australian Tunneler | Bald-faced Hornet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Onthophagus parvus | Dolichovespula maculata |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Vespidae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 15-20 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Australia | North America |
| 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.
Did You Know?
Native Australian dung beetles evolved with marsupial pellet dung and were ill-equipped to handle the wet dung of introduced cattle.
Bald-faced Hornet
A large black and white social wasp that builds impressive football-sized paper nests in trees and on buildings. Despite its name, it is not a true hornet but a yellowjacket relative.
Did You Know?
Bald-faced hornets can squirt venom from their stinger into the eyes of nest intruders, causing temporary blindness and intense pain.