African Myrmecophile Rove Beetle vs Cockchafer

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute African Myrmecophile Rove Beetle Cockchafer
Scientific Name Dorylomimus kohli Melolontha melolontha
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Staphylinidae Scarabaeidae
Size 4-6 mm 25-30 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Farmland
Diet Omnivores Root Feeders
Regions Central Africa, West Africa Western Europe, Central Europe, Northern Europe
Conservation Data Deficient Least Concern

African Myrmecophile Rove Beetle

A rove beetle that lives with army ant colonies in tropical Africa, mimicking the ants in body shape. It travels with the nomadic ant colony during emigrations.

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Did You Know?

Its body shape so closely mimics that of its host ants that it was initially described as an ant rather than a beetle.

Cockchafer

A large, clumsy-flying chafer beetle that emerges en masse on warm May evenings. Its white C-shaped larvae are familiar agricultural pests across Europe.

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Did You Know?

In medieval Europe, cockchafer swarms were so destructive that they were once put on trial in court.