Army Ant Rove Beetle vs African Migrant Butterfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Army Ant Rove Beetle African Migrant Butterfly
Scientific Name Ecitomorpha arachnoides Catopsilia florella
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Staphylinidae Pieridae
Size 4-6 mm 55-70 mm wingspan
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Omnivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Central America, South America Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Army Ant Rove Beetle

An extraordinary myrmecophilous rove beetle whose body remarkably mimics the shape of its host army ants. It lives exclusively among New World army ant colonies, marching with them on raids.

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Did You Know?

Its body shape so closely mimics that of its host ant that early entomologists initially classified it as an ant rather than a beetle.

African Migrant Butterfly

A large white to greenish-yellow pierid butterfly that undertakes massive migrations across Africa. Males are white while females are often greenish.

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Did You Know?

Migrating swarms can be so dense they have been reported to delay trains and cause traffic accidents.