Broad-necked Root Borer vs Hairy Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Broad-necked Root Borer Hairy Rove Beetle
Scientific Name Prionus laticollis Creophilus maxillosus
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Cerambycidae Staphylinidae
Size 22-48 mm 12-23 mm
Habitat Orchards Woodlands
Diet Root Feeders Predators
Regions Eastern North America North America, Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Broad-necked Root Borer

A large dark brown prionine beetle with a notably broad pronotum bearing three sharp lateral teeth on each side. Found in eastern North America, larvae bore into living tree roots and can damage orchards. Adults fly at dusk.

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Did You Know?

Females burrow into soil to lay eggs directly on tree roots, a behavior unusual among cerambycids.

Hairy Rove Beetle

A stocky rove beetle with distinctive patches of golden-grey hair on its elytra. It is commonly found on carrion where it hunts fly larvae.

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Did You Know?

Forensic entomologists use this beetle's presence on corpses to help estimate time of death.