Blue Net-Winged Beetle vs Beet Armyworm

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Blue Net-Winged Beetle Beet Armyworm
Scientific Name Metriorrhynchus rhipidius Spodoptera exigua
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Lycidae Noctuidae
Size 10-16 mm 25-30 mm wingspan
Habitat Forests Farmland
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Australia Worldwide warm regions
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Blue Net-Winged Beetle

An Australian net-winged beetle with dark blue-black elytra and elaborate feathery antennae in males. It is commonly found on vegetation in eucalyptus forests.

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Did You Know?

Males use their spectacularly branched antennae to detect female pheromones across long distances.

Beet Armyworm

A small grayish-brown moth whose green caterpillars attack a wide range of vegetable and field crops. Larvae often skeletonize leaves before moving to fruits and growing points.

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Did You Know?

Young larvae spin fine silk threads that allow them to balloon on the wind to new host plants.