African Ebony Longhorn vs Smooth Hister Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute African Ebony Longhorn Smooth Hister Beetle
Scientific Name Phantasis gigantea Margarinotus striola
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Cerambycidae Histeridae
Size 45-70 mm 4-6 mm
Habitat Woodlands Indoors
Diet Wood Feeders Dung Feeders
Regions Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe Europe, North Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

African Ebony Longhorn

An impressively large African lamiin with an elongated body and extremely long, spindly legs. It is found in the miombo woodlands of eastern and southern Africa. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to light traps.

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Did You Know?

Its extraordinarily long legs can span over 150 mm from tip to tip, giving it a spider-like appearance.

Smooth Hister Beetle

A compact, highly polished black beetle with fine elytral striations. It is one of the most common dung-dwelling hister beetles in Europe.

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Did You Know?

Its almost mirror-like surface is so smooth that dung and debris slide off its body, keeping it permanently clean.