Common Sun Beetle vs Plum Curculio
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Sun Beetle | Plum Curculio |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Elaphrus cupreus | Conotrachelus nenuphar |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Carabidae | Curculionidae |
| Size | 7-10 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Orchards |
| Diet | Predators | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, northern Asia | Eastern North America from Canada to the Gulf states |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Common Sun Beetle
A small, brilliantly metallic copper-green beetle with distinctive eye-like pits on its elytra. It runs rapidly on wet mud and is a visual hunter of springtails.
Did You Know?
The peculiar mirror-like pits on its elytra are thought to function as light-reflecting structures that may confuse predators or aid in thermoregulation.
Plum Curculio
A dark brown snout beetle covered in warty bumps that is a major pest of stone fruits. Females carve a crescent-shaped scar around each egg they lay in developing fruit.
Did You Know?
The distinctive crescent-shaped scar it cuts around each egg prevents the growing fruit from crushing the larva inside.