Ragwort Flea Beetle vs Horned Passalus
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Ragwort Flea Beetle | Horned Passalus |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Longitarsus jacobaeae | Odontotaenius disjunctus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Chrysomelidae | Passalidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 28-37 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Woodlands |
| Diet | Root Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Ragwort Flea Beetle
A small black flea beetle that feeds on ragwort plants. Successfully used as a biological control agent for invasive ragwort in Australia and New Zealand. Larvae mine in roots.
Did You Know?
One of the most successful biological control agents ever used, dramatically reducing ragwort in multiple countries.
Horned Passalus
A large, shiny black beetle with a small horn on its head, found in rotting logs. It lives in family groups where adults and larvae communicate by stridulation.
Did You Know?
Adults chew wood into pulp and feed it to their larvae, one of the few beetles to show true parental care.