North American Hide Beetle vs Malaysian Trilobite Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | North American Hide Beetle | Malaysian Trilobite Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Trox scaber | Platerodrilus ruficollis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Trogidae | Lycidae |
| Size | 5-9 mm | 40-80 mm females, 8-10 mm males |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Carrion Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | North America, Europe | Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, Indonesia) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
North American Hide Beetle
A small, oval, grayish-brown beetle with heavily sculptured elytra covered in rows of bumps and encrusted soil. It specializes in consuming dried keratin-rich animal remains. Found in owl pellets, bird nests, and old carcasses.
Did You Know?
Forensic entomologists use the presence of hide beetles to estimate time since death in very old remains.
Malaysian Trilobite Beetle
A bizarre beetle whose larviform females retain a flat, segmented larval appearance throughout life, resembling ancient trilobites. Males are small, winged, and conventionally beetle-shaped.
Did You Know?
The flat, armored female looks so unlike a typical beetle that it was originally described as a separate species from the male.