Flat Bark Hister Beetle vs Acorn Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Flat Bark Hister Beetle Acorn Moth
Scientific Name Hololepta plana Blastobasis glandulella
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Histeridae Blastobasidae
Size 7-10 mm 15–22 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Wood Feeders Omnivores
Regions Eastern North America Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Flat Bark Hister Beetle

An extremely flattened, disc-like black beetle found under bark of dead trees. Its body is compressed to fit in the narrow space between bark and wood.

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Did You Know?

Its body is so flat it can squeeze into gaps less than 2 mm wide to pursue prey under tight-fitting bark.

Acorn Moth

A small moth whose larvae bore into and consume the contents of acorns on the forest floor. It is common in oak woodlands across eastern North America.

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Did You Know?

In heavy infestation years, it can destroy over half the acorn crop on the forest floor.