California Web Spinner vs Deathwatch Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | California Web Spinner | Deathwatch Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oligotoma moestum | Xestobium rufovillosum |
| Order | Embioptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Oligotomidae | Ptinidae |
| Size | 7.0-10.0 mm | 5-9 mm |
| Habitat | Gardens | Woodlands |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | North America, Asia | Europe |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
California Web Spinner
A small introduced web spinner now established in California and other warm parts of the United States. It is commonly found in gardens and around buildings.
Did You Know?
This species was accidentally introduced to the Americas and is now one of the few web spinners most North Americans ever encounter.
Deathwatch Beetle
A small, mottled brown wood-boring beetle that creates a distinctive tapping sound by banging its head against tunnel walls. Larvae can take years to develop in old timber.
Did You Know?
Its eerie tapping in quiet rooms at night was historically associated with impending death, giving the beetle its macabre common name.