Trilobite Beetle vs Tobacco Flea Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Trilobite Beetle Tobacco Flea Beetle
Scientific Name Duliticola hoiseni Epitrix hirtipennis
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Lycidae Chrysomelidae
Size 40-80 mm (females), 8-10 mm (males) 1.5-2 mm
Habitat Underground Farmland
Diet Fungus Feeders Herbivores
Regions Asia North America, Central America
Conservation Data Deficient Not Evaluated

Trilobite Beetle

Females are large, larviform, and look strikingly like trilobites from the Paleozoic era. Males are tiny conventional-looking beetles. One of the most extreme sexual dimorphisms in insects.

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Did You Know?

Females of this beetle retain their larval form throughout life and look like extinct trilobites — males are tiny normal beetles, creating one of natures most extreme sex differences.

Tobacco Flea Beetle

A tiny brownish beetle that creates small round holes in tobacco and other solanaceous crop leaves. Larval feeding on roots further weakens plants.

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Did You Know?

Its feeding holes reduce the quality and market value of tobacco wrapper leaves used for cigars.