Clavigerite Ant Beetle vs Underground Army Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Clavigerite Ant Beetle Underground Army Ant
Scientific Name Claviger testaceus Labidus coecus
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Staphylinidae Formicidae
Size 2-3 mm 2-7 mm
Habitat Underground Caves
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Europe Southern United States, Central America, South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Clavigerite Ant Beetle

A tiny, blind, wingless rove beetle that is an obligate guest of Lasius ant colonies. It has lost its eyes and developed specialized trichomes that secrete ant-appeasing compounds.

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Did You Know?

It is so dependent on ants that it cannot survive more than a few hours outside their nest.

Underground Army Ant

A mostly subterranean army ant that occasionally surfaces in massive raiding columns across the Americas. Workers are pale yellow, reflecting their underground lifestyle.

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Did You Know?

They are the most frequently encountered army ants in the Americas but are rarely seen because of their subterranean habits.