Common Ponerine vs Tooth-Necked Fungus Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Ponerine | Tooth-Necked Fungus Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ponera pennsylvanica | Bolitotherus cornutus |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Tenebrionidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 10-12 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Detritivores | Fungus Feeders |
| Regions | Eastern North America | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Common Ponerine
A tiny dark brown predatory ant living in soil and leaf litter across eastern North America. Colonies are small, rarely exceeding 50 workers, and they hunt minute soil arthropods.
Did You Know?
Despite being one of the most common ants in eastern forests, they are rarely noticed due to their tiny size and cryptic habits.
Tooth-Necked Fungus Beetle
A heavily armored, warty brown beetle that feeds on shelf fungi on dead trees. Males have two prominent horns on the thorax.
Did You Know?
It plays dead so convincingly that it is nearly impossible to distinguish from a piece of bark.