Elm Leaf Beetle vs Clown Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Elm Leaf Beetle Clown Beetle
Scientific Name Xanthogaleruca luteola Hister unicolor
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Chrysomelidae Histeridae
Size 5-7 mm 6-9 mm
Habitat Woodlands Farmland
Diet Herbivores Scavengers
Regions Europe, introduced worldwide Europe, North America
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Elm Leaf Beetle

A yellowish-green beetle with dark stripes along its elytra. Both adults and larvae feed on elm leaves, sometimes causing severe defoliation.

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Did You Know?

Heavy infestations can strip an elm tree of nearly all its leaves in a single season.

Clown Beetle

A small, shiny black beetle with a compact, rounded body. It is a predator of fly larvae found in dung and decaying matter.

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Did You Know?

It can retract its legs and antennae into grooves on its body, making it nearly spherical.