Black Garden Ant vs Hairy Rove Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Black Garden Ant | Hairy Rove Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lasius niger | Creophilus maxillosus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 3-5 mm | 12-23 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia, introduced to North America | North America, Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Black Garden Ant
The most common ant in Europe, dark brown to black with a slightly pubescent body. Colonies are monogynous and can persist for decades under a single long-lived queen. Workers are highly adaptable generalist foragers.
Did You Know?
Queens of this species can live for nearly 30 years, making them some of the longest-lived insects on Earth.
Hairy Rove Beetle
A stocky rove beetle with distinctive patches of golden-grey hair on its elytra. It is commonly found on carrion where it hunts fly larvae.
Did You Know?
Forensic entomologists use this beetle's presence on corpses to help estimate time of death.