Helm's Stag Beetle vs Green Milkweed Leaf Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Helm's Stag Beetle | Green Milkweed Leaf Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Geodorcus helmsi | Labidomera clivicollis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Lucanidae | Chrysomelidae |
| Size | 25-40 mm | 8-12 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Grasslands |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Oceania (New Zealand - South Island) | North America |
| Conservation | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
Helm's Stag Beetle
An endemic New Zealand stag beetle found in the forests of the South Island. Males have enlarged mandibles used in fighting. It is a large, flightless beetle that lives in rotting logs in native bush. Several Geodorcus species are found only in New Zealand.
Did You Know?
New Zealand stag beetles are flightless, having lost their ability to fly in the absence of land mammal predators over millions of years of island evolution.
Green Milkweed Leaf Beetle
A large, handsome beetle with blue-black elytra marked with orange to cream-colored spots and a blue-black pronotum. It is commonly found on milkweed plants across North America.
Did You Know?
Like monarch butterflies, this beetle sequesters toxic cardiac glycosides from milkweed, and its bold coloration warns predators of its unpalatability.