Huia Ground Beetle vs Corn Flea Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Huia Ground Beetle | Corn Flea Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Mecodema huia | Chaetocnema pulicaria |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Carabidae | Chrysomelidae |
| Size | 22-30 mm | 1.5-2 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Farmland |
| Diet | Predators | Herbivores |
| Regions | New Zealand (North Island) | North America |
| Conservation | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
Huia Ground Beetle
A large, flightless ground beetle endemic to New Zealand with a heavily sculptured dark body. It is named after the extinct huia bird and found in native forest remnants.
Did You Know?
New Zealand has an extraordinary radiation of endemic Mecodema ground beetles, with over 50 species that evolved in isolation, many confined to single mountain ranges or forests.
Corn Flea Beetle
A very small, shiny black to bronze flea beetle with a compact, oval body. It vectors Stewart's wilt bacterium, making it both a direct and indirect pest of sweet corn.
Did You Know?
The severity of Stewart's wilt in a given year can be predicted by winter temperatures, since cold winters reduce overwintering beetle populations.