Featherwing Beetle vs Australian Giant Earwig
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Featherwing Beetle | Australian Giant Earwig |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Scydosella musawasensis | Titanolabis colossea |
| Order | Coleoptera | Dermaptera |
| Family | Ptiliidae | Anisolabididae |
| Size | 0.325 mm | 40-50 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Fungus Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Central America | Oceania |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Featherwing Beetle
The smallest known free-living (non-parasitic) insect at just 0.325 mm long. Discovered in Nicaragua in 1999, it feeds on spores of basidiomycete fungi in rotting wood.
Did You Know?
At 0.325 mm, this beetle is about the width of the period at the end of this sentence — yet it is a fully functional adult insect with complete organ systems.
Australian Giant Earwig
The largest living earwig species, reaching up to 50 mm long. It is a burrowing, wingless species found in eastern Australia.
Did You Know?
This enormous earwig can deliver a painful pinch with its massive forceps if handled carelessly.