Dermestid Beetle vs Caribbean Hercules Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Dermestid Beetle | Caribbean Hercules Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dermestes maculatus | Dynastes hercules hercules |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Dermestidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 6-10mm | 50-170 mm including horn |
| Habitat | Farmland | Forests |
| Diet | Omnivores | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Worldwide | Guadeloupe, Dominica, Lesser Antilles |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Dermestid Beetle
A small dark beetle with white undersides used by museums and taxidermists to clean skeletons. Larvae are covered in bristly hairs.
Did You Know?
Natural history museums keep colonies of these beetles specifically to clean flesh from bones for skeletal displays.
Caribbean Hercules Beetle
The nominate subspecies of the Hercules beetle, found in the Lesser Antilles. Males bear an enormous horn used in combat with rivals.
Did You Know?
It is one of the longest beetles on Earth and can lift objects 850 times its own weight.