Australian Malaria Mosquito vs Coastal Rove Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Australian Malaria Mosquito | Coastal Rove Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anopheles farauti | Cafius xantholoma |
| Order | Diptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Culicidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 3-5 mm | 6-9 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, northern Australia | Atlantic coasts of Europe and North Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Australian Malaria Mosquito
A pale-winged Anopheles mosquito that is the dominant malaria vector in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. It breeds in brackish water as well as fresh water, giving it access to coastal habitats. It bites both indoors and outdoors, making vector control challenging.
Did You Know?
Its ability to breed in both salt and fresh water gives it access to coastal habitats where most Anopheles cannot survive.
Coastal Rove Beetle
A medium-sized rove beetle with yellowish elytral margins, highly adapted to life on seashores. It lives under seaweed wrack on beaches where it preys on kelp fly larvae.
Did You Know?
This beetle can survive temporary submersion in seawater during high tides by trapping an air bubble under its elytra.