African Myrmecophile Rove Beetle vs Scotch Argus

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute African Myrmecophile Rove Beetle Scotch Argus
Scientific Name Dorylomimus kohli Erebia aethiops
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Staphylinidae Nymphalidae
Size 4-6 mm 40-48 mm wingspan
Habitat Rivers & Streams Woodlands
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Central Africa, West Africa Europe, temperate Asia
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.

Scotch Argus

A dark brown butterfly with russet-orange bands containing eyespots, found in northern grasslands and light woodland. It flies in a bouncing manner close to the ground.

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Did You Know?

In Britain, it is confined to Scotland and a single colony in the Lake District surviving since the last ice age.