Bethany Beach Firefly vs Trilobite Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Bethany Beach Firefly | Trilobite Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Photuris bethaniensis | Duliticola hoiseni |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Lampyridae | Lycidae |
| Size | 10-14 mm | 40-80 mm (females), 8-10 mm (males) |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Underground |
| Diet | Predators | Fungus Feeders |
| Regions | Eastern United States | Asia |
| Conservation | Vulnerable | Data Deficient |
Bethany Beach Firefly
A predatory firefly known from a narrow range along the mid-Atlantic coast. Females mimic the flash patterns of other firefly species to lure and eat the males.
Did You Know?
By consuming other fireflies, females acquire defensive chemicals called lucibufagins that protect them from predators.
Trilobite Beetle
Females are large, larviform, and look strikingly like trilobites from the Paleozoic era. Males are tiny conventional-looking beetles. One of the most extreme sexual dimorphisms in insects.
Did You Know?
Females of this beetle retain their larval form throughout life and look like extinct trilobites — males are tiny normal beetles, creating one of natures most extreme sex differences.