African Soldier Beetle vs Svalbard Rove Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | African Soldier Beetle | Svalbard Rove Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cantharis africana | Atheta islandica |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Cantharidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 8-12 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Africa, Eastern Africa, Southern Africa | Iceland, Svalbard, northern Scandinavia, Greenland |
| 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.
Svalbard Rove Beetle
A tiny, dark brown rove beetle found in some of the most northerly terrestrial habitats on Earth. It shelters in bird nests and guano deposits where the microclimate is warmer. Adults are active predators of mites.
Did You Know?
This beetle survives in the High Arctic partly by living in seabird colonies where decomposing guano generates warmth.