Featherwing Beetle vs Hildebrand's Jewel Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Featherwing Beetle | Hildebrand's Jewel Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Scydosella musawasensis | Sternocera hildebrandti |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Ptiliidae | Buprestidae |
| Size | 0.325 mm | 30-50 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Fungus Feeders | Root Feeders |
| Regions | Central America | East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia) |
| 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.
Hildebrand's Jewel Beetle
A large, robust jewel beetle with a deep metallic green body covered in fine punctures. It emerges in large numbers after seasonal rains in semi-arid areas.
Did You Know?
Its metallic coloration is so vivid that dead specimens retain their brilliance for decades, making them prized by collectors.