African Soldier Beetle vs Maricopa Harvester Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | African Soldier Beetle | Maricopa Harvester Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cantharis africana | Pogonomyrmex maricopa |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Cantharidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 8-12 mm | 6-10 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Predators | Seed Feeders |
| Regions | Africa, Eastern Africa, Southern Africa | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
African Soldier Beetle
A soft-bodied soldier beetle from Sub-Saharan Africa with orange-brown elytra and a darker head region. Like other cantharids, it has flexible elytra and is an active predator of small insects on flowers.
Did You Know?
Soldier beetles are important pollinators in their own right, transferring pollen between flowers as they hunt for prey.
Maricopa Harvester Ant
Produces the most toxic insect venom known — with an LD50 of 0.12 mg/kg in mice. Just 12 stings can deliver a lethal dose to a 2 kg mammal.
Did You Know?
The venom of this ant is 20 times more potent than honey bee venom — it is the most toxic insect venom ever measured, yet the ant is only stung-aggressive when defending its nest.