Silken Fungus Beetle vs Vedalia Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Silken Fungus Beetle | Vedalia Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cryptophagus lycoperdi | Novius cardinalis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Cryptophagidae | Coccinellidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 3-4 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Orchards |
| Diet | Fungus Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe | Australia, Worldwide (introduced) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Silken Fungus Beetle
A tiny beetle found inside puffball fungi and in moldy grain stores. Covered in fine silky hairs. Part of a poorly-known beetle family that feeds on fungal spores and molds.
Did You Know?
So tiny and hidden inside puffball fungi that it is almost never seen despite being common.
Vedalia Beetle
A small red-and-black ladybird famous as the first successful biological control agent in history. It saved the California citrus industry from the cottony cushion scale in 1889.
Did You Know?
Its introduction to California is considered the founding event of modern biological pest control.