Western Dobsonfly vs Western Balsam Bark Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Western Dobsonfly | Western Balsam Bark Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Neohermes californicus | Dryocoetes confusus |
| Order | Megaloptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Corydalidae | Curculionidae (Scolytinae) |
| Size | 50-70 mm wingspan | 3.2–4.5 mm |
| Habitat | Mountains | Mountains |
| Diet | Predators | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Western North America | Western North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Western Dobsonfly
A large dobsonfly of western North American streams, smaller than its eastern relative. Larvae are top predators under rocks in cool mountain streams.
Did You Know?
Unlike eastern dobsonflies, males of this species lack the enlarged mandibles.
Western Balsam Bark Beetle
A bark beetle that primarily attacks subalpine fir in western North America. It often colonizes trees already weakened by root disease.
Did You Know?
It produces a pheromone called exo-brevicomin that attracts other beetles to mass-attack weakened trees.