Sal Borer vs Railroad Worm
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Sal Borer | Railroad Worm |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hoplocerambyx spinicornis | Phrixothrix hirtus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Cerambycidae | Phengodidae |
| Size | 35-60 mm | 30-65 mm (larvae) |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Underground |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | South Asia (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, particularly central Indian forests) | South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Sal Borer
A large, dark brown longhorn beetle that is the most destructive pest of sal trees, India's most important timber species. Larvae bore extensive galleries through the sapwood and heartwood, killing mature trees.
Did You Know?
During outbreaks, this beetle can kill millions of sal trees across thousands of hectares, causing catastrophic timber losses.
Railroad Worm
A beetle larva with 11 pairs of green-glowing lateral organs and a red-glowing headlamp — the only land animal that produces two different colors of bioluminescence simultaneously.
Did You Know?
The railroad worm is the only terrestrial animal that glows in two colors at once — green along its sides like railway car windows and red on its head like a locomotive.