New Zealand Sand Scarab vs Shining Flea Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | New Zealand Sand Scarab | Shining Flea Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pericoptus truncatus | Asphaera lustrans |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Chrysomelidae |
| Size | 20-30 mm | 7-10 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Forests |
| Diet | Predators | Herbivores |
| Regions | Oceania (New Zealand) | Central and South America |
| Conservation | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
New Zealand Sand Scarab
A large flightless scarab beetle endemic to sandy coastal habitats in New Zealand. It is nocturnal and burrows in sand dunes during the day. Once common on beaches, it has become increasingly rare due to habitat modification and introduced predators.
Did You Know?
This beetle was once so common on beaches that Maori used it as fish bait, but predation by introduced rodents has severely reduced its numbers.
Shining Flea Beetle
A relatively large, metallic blue-green flea beetle with reddish-orange femora. It is one of the larger and more colorful alticines found in the Neotropics.
Did You Know?
Despite its relatively large size, it retains the powerful jumping ability characteristic of flea beetles, launching itself several centimeters when disturbed.