South American Darkling Beetle vs Pine Chafer
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | South American Darkling Beetle | Pine Chafer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Zophobas morio | Polyphylla fullo |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Tenebrionidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 18-25 mm | 25-36mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Root Feeders |
| Regions | Brazil, Central America, northern South America | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
South American Darkling Beetle
A large shiny black darkling beetle widely distributed across tropical South America. Its larvae, known as superworms, are commonly used as animal feed.
Did You Know?
Its larvae can digest polystyrene plastic thanks to gut bacteria, making them subjects of biodegradation research.
Pine Chafer
A large brown chafer beetle with white marbled markings on its elytra. Males have enormous fan-shaped antennae with seven lamellae.
Did You Know?
When handled it produces a loud hissing sound by rubbing its abdomen against its wing cases which can startle predators.