Bornean Flat-horned Beetle vs Kissing Bug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Bornean Flat-horned Beetle | Kissing Bug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gnaphaloryx squalidus | Rhodnius prolixus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Lucanidae | Reduviidae |
| Size | 20-35 mm | 15-25 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | Southeast Asia (Borneo, Malaysia, Indonesia) | Central America, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Bornean Flat-horned Beetle
A compact stag beetle with a broad, flattened body perfectly adapted for living under bark. It is dark reddish-brown with flattened mandibles and ridged elytra for grip in tight spaces.
Did You Know?
Its extremely flat body allows it to squeeze into crevices less than 5 mm wide between bark and wood.
Kissing Bug
The principal vector of Chagas disease in Latin America. Named because it bites sleeping humans near the mouth and eyes, transmitting the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite through its feces.
Did You Know?
Kissing bugs defecate while feeding on sleeping victims — the parasite in their feces enters through the bite wound, infecting up to 8 million people with Chagas disease.