Deer Ked vs Hermit Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Deer Ked | Hermit Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lipoptena cervi | Osmoderma eremita |
| Order | Diptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Hippoboscidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | 25-35 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, introduced to North America | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
Deer Ked
A flattened, reddish-brown blood-sucking fly that sheds its wings upon finding a deer host. It clings tenaciously to the hair with strong claws and feeds on blood throughout its life.
Did You Know?
After landing on a host, it breaks off its own wings permanently, spending the rest of its life as a wingless ectoparasite.
Hermit Beetle
A large, dark chestnut beetle that lives its entire life inside hollow old trees. It emits a strong fruity odor similar to apricots.
Did You Know?
Most individuals never leave the tree they are born in, making them extremely poor colonizers.