Confused Flour Beetle vs White-letter Hairstreak

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Confused Flour Beetle White-letter Hairstreak
Scientific Name Tribolium confusum Satyrium w-album
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Tenebrionidae Lycaenidae
Size 3-4 mm Wingspan 26-30mm
Habitat Indoors Hedgerows
Diet Seed Feeders Seed Feeders
Regions Worldwide Europe, Asia
Conservation Not Evaluated Near Threatened

Confused Flour Beetle

A small reddish-brown beetle nearly identical to the red flour beetle, hence the 'confused' name. It is a worldwide pest of stored flour.

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Did You Know?

It was named 'confused' because entomologists kept confusing it with the red flour beetle.

White-letter Hairstreak

A small dark butterfly with a distinctive W-shaped white line on the hindwing underside. Breeds on elm.

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Did You Know?

Has declined dramatically due to Dutch elm disease destroying its food plant across Europe.