Alpine Click Beetle vs Rock Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Alpine Click Beetle Rock Ant
Scientific Name Hypnoidus rivularius Temnothorax rugatulus
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Elateridae Formicidae
Size 5-7 mm 2-3 mm
Habitat Mountains Mountains
Diet Root Feeders Omnivores
Regions Northern Europe, Alps, Scandinavia Western United States, Mexico
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Alpine Click Beetle

A small, dark click beetle found in damp alpine and subalpine habitats. Its larvae develop in moist soil among grass roots.

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Did You Know?

Like all click beetles, it can launch itself into the air with an audible click to escape predators.

Rock Ant

A tiny dark ant that nests in rock crevices at high elevations in western North America. Colonies contain about 200 workers and exhibit collective decision-making. Workers are dark brown with rugose sculpture on the body.

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Did You Know?

Studies showed that about 40% of workers in a colony are consistently inactive, serving as a reserve labor force.