Deathwatch Beetle vs Gall Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Deathwatch Beetle | Gall Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Xestobium rufovillosum | Andricus quercuscalicis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Ptinidae | Cynipidae |
| Size | 5-9 mm | 3-4 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Gall Makers |
| Regions | Europe | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Gall Wasp
A tiny wasp that induces knopper galls on oak acorns, deforming them completely.
Did You Know?
It has alternating sexual and asexual generations that produce different gall types.