Army Ant Rove Beetle vs Meadow Grasshopper

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Army Ant Rove Beetle Meadow Grasshopper
Scientific Name Ecitomorpha arachnoides Pseudochorthippus parallelus
Order Coleoptera Orthoptera
Family Staphylinidae Acrididae
Size 4-6 mm 13-23 mm
Habitat Underground Grasslands
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Central America, South America Western Europe, Central Europe, Northern Europe
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.

Meadow Grasshopper

A common European grasshopper with shortened wings that render it flightless. It produces a regular, ticking song from dense grassland throughout the summer.

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Did You Know?

Despite having wings, it cannot fly and must walk or hop to get anywhere.