Eastern Hercules Flower Beetle vs Flea Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Eastern Hercules Flower Beetle Flea Beetle
Scientific Name Mecynorrhina polyphemus Altica oleracea
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Chrysomelidae
Size 40-80 mm 3-5 mm
Habitat Forests Farmland
Diet Sap Feeders Herbivores
Regions West and Central Africa Europe, North America
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Eastern Hercules Flower Beetle

A large African flower beetle with variable coloration from green to brown. Males have a short forked horn on the head.

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Did You Know?

Named after the cyclops Polyphemus due to the single horn on the male's head resembling a central eye.

Flea Beetle

Tiny jumping beetles with enlarged hind femora for leaping. Named for their flea-like jumping ability. Many species are metallic blue, green, or bronze.

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Did You Know?

Flea beetles can jump 100 times their body length in a single leap — they use an elastic protein pad in their hind legs that stores and releases energy like a catapult.