Lined Flat Bark Ground Beetle vs Red-Shouldered Ham Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Lined Flat Bark Ground Beetle Red-Shouldered Ham Beetle
Scientific Name Platynus decentis Carcinops pumilio
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Carabidae Histeridae
Size 10-13 mm 2-3 mm
Habitat Forests Farmland
Diet Predators Predators
Regions North America Worldwide (cosmopolitan)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Lined Flat Bark Ground Beetle

A medium-sized, flattened ground beetle with a sleek black body and fine striations on its elytra. It is commonly found under bark and in forest floor debris.

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Did You Know?

Its extremely flattened body allows it to squeeze under tight-fitting bark on fallen logs, where it hunts prey that other predators cannot reach.

Red-Shouldered Ham Beetle

A tiny, shiny black hister beetle commonly found in poultry houses where it preys on house fly larvae. It is an important biological control agent in livestock facilities.

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Did You Know?

A single beetle can consume up to 24 house fly eggs per day, making it one of the best natural fly controls in hen houses.