Small Australian Tunneler vs Tree Weta
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Small Australian Tunneler | Tree Weta |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Onthophagus parvus | Hemideina thoracica |
| Order | Coleoptera | Orthoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Anostostomatidae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 40-60 mm body length |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Australia | Oceania |
| 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.
Tree Weta
A common weta species found throughout the North Island of New Zealand. It shelters in tree holes during the day and forages for food at night.
Did You Know?
Tree weta can survive being frozen solid; their blood contains special proteins that prevent ice crystals from damaging their cells.