Colorado Soldier Beetle vs Trilobite Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Colorado Soldier Beetle | Trilobite Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chauliognathus basalis | Duliticola hoiseni |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Cantharidae | Lycidae |
| Size | 8-12mm | 40-80 mm (females), 8-10 mm (males) |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Predators | Fungus Feeders |
| Regions | North America | Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Data Deficient |
Colorado Soldier Beetle
A soft-bodied beetle with orange and brown elytra commonly found on flowers. It is an important pollinator and predator of small insects.
Did You Know?
Soldier beetles produce toxic compounds called cantharidins in their blood that make them unpalatable to 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.