Eastern Hercules Beetle vs Dark Western Drywood Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Eastern Hercules Beetle Dark Western Drywood Termite
Scientific Name Dynastes tityus Incisitermes fruticavus
Order Coleoptera Blattodea
Family Dynastinae Kalotermitidae
Size 40-60 mm Workers 5-7 mm, soldiers 6-8 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Sap Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Eastern United States Southwestern United States, Sonoran Desert
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Eastern Hercules Beetle

The largest beetle in North America, with males bearing a large pronotal horn. Elytra are greenish-yellow with dark mottling.

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Did You Know?

Their elytra change color depending on humidity levels, becoming darker when moist.

Dark Western Drywood Termite

A drywood termite found in arid regions of the southwestern United States. It infests dead wood in desert trees and shrubs.

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Did You Know?

It commonly infests dead wood of palo verde trees and mesquite in the Sonoran Desert.