Four-Spotted Hister Beetle vs Saunders' Case Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Four-Spotted Hister Beetle | Saunders' Case Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hister quadrimaculatus | Metura saundersi |
| Order | Coleoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Histeridae | Psychidae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | Case up to 8 cm long; male moth 1.5-2 cm wingspan |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe | Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Four-Spotted Hister Beetle
A glossy black hister beetle with four orange-red spots on its wing cases. It is associated with mammal dung in pastures and heathlands.
Did You Know?
It typically arrives at fresh dung within the first hour and remains for several days until the pat dries out.
Saunders' Case Moth
A smaller relative of the large case moth that constructs a tapering case of silk and plant debris. Males are dark, short-lived moths while females remain in their cases.
Did You Know?
Each case is individually crafted and can take over a year to fully construct.