African Cassava Leaf Beetle vs Atlas Longhorn

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute African Cassava Leaf Beetle Atlas Longhorn
Scientific Name Mesoplatys ochroptera Macrotoma palmata
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Chrysomelidae Cerambycidae
Size 4-6 mm 40-65 mm
Habitat Farmland Grasslands
Diet Herbivores Wood Feeders
Regions Sub-Saharan Africa West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

African Cassava Leaf Beetle

A small, yellowish-brown beetle that is a significant pest of cassava in sub-Saharan Africa. Both adults and larvae feed on young cassava leaves and shoots.

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Did You Know?

Cassava leaf beetles can cause severe defoliation of cassava, one of Africa's most important food security crops feeding over 500 million people.

Atlas Longhorn

A large prionine beetle from tropical Africa with palmate (comb-like) antennae in males. The body is dark brown with a robust build. Larvae develop in large fallen trunks of savanna trees.

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Did You Know?

The elaborate comb-like antennae of males are thought to detect female pheromones with extreme sensitivity.