Common Mormon vs Polar Rove Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Mormon | Polar Rove Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Papilio polytes | Atheta graminicola |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Papilionidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 90-100 mm wingspan | 2-4 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | South Asia, Southeast Asia | Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Iceland, subarctic Canada |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Common Mormon
Males are plain black with a cream band; females occur in multiple forms mimicking different toxic species. A textbook example of female-limited polymorphism.
Did You Know?
A single gene called doublesex controls the switch between its mimetic female forms.
Polar Rove Beetle
A tiny, elongate rove beetle with short wing covers and a flexible abdomen. It is dark brown to black and very agile. It lives among decaying vegetation and is a predator of mites and other small arthropods.
Did You Know?
Rove beetles like this species can raise their abdomens like scorpions to deter predators, though they have no stinger.