Varied Carpet Beetle vs Balsam Fir Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Varied Carpet Beetle Balsam Fir Sawfly
Scientific Name Anthrenus verbasci Neodiprion abietis
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Dermestidae Diprionidae
Size 2-3 mm 6-8 mm
Habitat Underground Forests
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Worldwide Eastern North America
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Varied Carpet Beetle

A tiny, round beetle with mottled white, brown, and yellow scales on its elytra. It is a worldwide pest of natural fiber collections.

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Did You Know?

Museum curators consider it one of the greatest threats to insect specimen collections.

Balsam Fir Sawfly

A boreal sawfly whose dark green larvae with lighter stripes feed on balsam fir needles. Periodic outbreaks can cause significant defoliation in fir forests.

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Did You Know?

Outbreaks of this species often follow those of the spruce budworm, as the already stressed trees are more susceptible to additional defoliation.