Hermit Beetle vs Lily Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hermit Beetle Lily Beetle
Scientific Name Osmoderma eremita Lilioceris lilii
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Chrysomelidae
Size 25-35 mm 6-8 mm
Habitat Woodlands Underground
Diet Wood Feeders Herbivores
Regions Europe Europe, Asia; invasive in North America
Conservation Near Threatened Not Evaluated

Hermit Beetle

A large, dark chestnut beetle that lives its entire life inside hollow old trees. It emits a strong fruity odor similar to apricots.

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Did You Know?

Most individuals never leave the tree they are born in, making them extremely poor colonizers.

Lily Beetle

A bright scarlet beetle that is a destructive pest of lilies and fritillaries. Larvae camouflage themselves by covering their bodies with their own excrement.

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Did You Know?

When picked up, adults squeak by rubbing body parts together in a behavior called stridulation.