Powderpost Beetle vs Red-Headed Cardinal Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Powderpost Beetle Red-Headed Cardinal Beetle
Scientific Name Lyctus brunneus Pyrochroa serraticornis
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Bostrichidae Pyrochroidae
Size 3-7 mm 14-20 mm
Habitat Indoors Hedgerows
Diet Wood Feeders Predators
Regions Worldwide Europe
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Powderpost Beetle

A small, slender reddish-brown beetle that reduces hardwood timber to fine powder. It is a significant pest of furniture and flooring.

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Did You Know?

Infested wood can be completely hollowed out while the exterior appears perfectly intact.

Red-Headed Cardinal Beetle

A vivid red beetle with serrated antennae found on flowers and under bark. Larvae are predatory and live beneath the bark of dead trees.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most beetles, the bright red color is not a warning of toxicity but may mimic toxic species.