Pitted Ambrosia Beetle vs Hairy Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pitted Ambrosia Beetle Hairy Rove Beetle
Scientific Name Cnesinus strigicollis Creophilus maxillosus
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Curculionidae Staphylinidae
Size 2-3mm 12-23 mm
Habitat Gardens Woodlands
Diet Fungus Feeders Predators
Regions North America, South America North America, Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Pitted Ambrosia Beetle

A tiny dark brown bark beetle that cultivates fungal gardens inside its tunnels. It introduces ambrosia fungi into the wood which it and its larvae eat.

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Did You Know?

It is one of many beetle species that practice true agriculture cultivating fungal crops inside tree tunnels for food.

Hairy Rove Beetle

A stocky rove beetle with distinctive patches of golden-grey hair on its elytra. It is commonly found on carrion where it hunts fly larvae.

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Did You Know?

Forensic entomologists use this beetle's presence on corpses to help estimate time of death.