Vacca Dung Beetle vs Macrotermes Queen
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Vacca Dung Beetle | Macrotermes Queen |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Onthophagus vacca | Macrotermes bellicosus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Blattodea |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Termitidae |
| Size | 6-12 mm | 100-140 mm (queen) |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Fungus Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Vacca Dung Beetle
A small coppery-green to bronze tunneler with a broad head and short horns in males. It is a common pasture dung beetle across Europe. The metallic sheen distinguishes it from many congeners.
Did You Know?
Males with longer horns guard tunnel entrances while hornless males sneak through side tunnels to mate.
Macrotermes Queen
Queens can live for over 25 years (possibly up to 50) and grow to enormous size — a single queen lays up to 30,000 eggs per day, more than any other insect.
Did You Know?
A Macrotermes queen can live 25-50 years and produce up to 30,000 eggs per day — her abdomen swells so large that she becomes physically incapable of moving.