Huhu Beetle vs Spruce Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Huhu Beetle | Spruce Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Prionoplus reticularis | Dendroctonus rufipennis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Cerambycidae | Curculionidae |
| Size | 25-50 mm | 4-7 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Oceania (New Zealand) | Alaska, western Canada, and the Rocky Mountain states |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Huhu Beetle
New Zealand's largest endemic beetle, the huhu beetle is a longhorn beetle whose larvae bore into dead and decaying wood. Adults are nocturnal and strongly attracted to lights. The larvae, called huhu grubs, were a traditional food source for Maori.
Did You Know?
Huhu grubs were considered a delicacy by Maori and are said to taste like peanut butter when eaten raw.
Spruce Beetle
A dark brown to black bark beetle that is the primary killer of mature spruce trees in North America. Outbreaks are triggered by drought, windthrow, or warming temperatures.
Did You Know?
A single outbreak in Alaska during the 1990s killed spruce trees across more than one million acres.