Deathwatch Beetle vs Long-winged Bark Mantis
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Deathwatch Beetle | Long-winged Bark Mantis |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Xestobium rufovillosum | Amorphoscelis longipennis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Mantodea |
| Family | Ptinidae | Amorphoscelidae |
| Size | 5-9 mm | 18-28 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Forests |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Data Deficient |
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.
Long-winged Bark Mantis
A bark mantis from West Africa with unusually long wings for its body size. Males are capable of sustained flight, unlike most bark mantises.
Did You Know?
Its relatively long wings make males among the strongest fliers in the family Amorphoscelidae.