California Harvester Ant vs Splendid Earth-boring Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute California Harvester Ant Splendid Earth-boring Beetle
Scientific Name Pogonomyrmex californicus Bolbocerosoma farctum
Order Hymenoptera Coleoptera
Family Formicidae Geotrupidae
Size 5-7 mm 8-14mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Deserts & Drylands
Diet Seed Feeders Fungus Feeders
Regions North America North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

California Harvester Ant

A small harvester ant found in hot deserts of the American Southwest. Colonies are often founded by groups of cooperating queens.

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Did You Know?

Multiple unrelated queens can found a single colony together, then fight to the death until only one remains.

Splendid Earth-boring Beetle

A stout rotund beetle with a polished amber-brown body. It digs deep burrows in sandy soil and is attracted to lights at night.

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Did You Know?

It helps propagate underground fungi by carrying fungal spores between burrows acting as a subterranean gardener.