African Soldier Beetle vs Velvet Tree Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | African Soldier Beetle | Velvet Tree Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cantharis africana | Liometopum occidentale |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Cantharidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 8-12 mm | 3-6 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Predators | Omnivores |
| 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.
Velvet Tree Ant
A large ant that nests in oak trees and produces a distinctive trail pheromone odor.
Did You Know?
Columns of these ants march in conspicuous trails up and down tree trunks.