Spotted Tumbling Flower Beetle vs Cedar Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Spotted Tumbling Flower Beetle Cedar Beetle
Scientific Name Mordellistena pumila Sandalus niger
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Mordellidae Rhipiceridae
Size 2-3.5 mm 15-24 mm
Habitat Farmland Woodlands
Diet Pollen Feeders Parasitoids
Regions Europe North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Spotted Tumbling Flower Beetle

A tiny tumbling flower beetle found on composite flowers in summer. Larvae develop in plant stems. One of the smallest and most frequently encountered mordellid species.

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Did You Know?

So small that it can hide inside individual florets of composite flower heads.

Cedar Beetle

A parasitoid beetle whose larvae feed on cicada nymphs underground.

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Did You Know?

Adults have no functional mouthparts and live only long enough to mate.