Humpbacked Mite-hunter vs Grapevine Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Humpbacked Mite-hunter Grapevine Beetle
Scientific Name Scydmaenus hellwigii Pelidnota punctata
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Staphylinidae Scarabaeidae
Size 1-1.5 mm 20-26 mm
Habitat Forests Orchards
Diet Detritivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Western Asia North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Humpbacked Mite-hunter

A diminutive scydmaenine rove beetle with a distinctly humped profile and long, clubbed antennae. It specializes in hunting oribatid mites in the micro-habitats of forest floor detritus.

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Did You Know?

To overcome the mite's armor, this beetle first gnaws a small hole in the mite's exoskeleton, then inserts its mandibles to extract the soft tissues inside.

Grapevine Beetle

A handsome tan-colored scarab with dark spots on its elytra, found in eastern North America. Adults feed on grapevine foliage and are attracted to lights at night.

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Did You Know?

Despite its name, it rarely causes significant damage to commercial grapevines.