Costa Rican Firefly vs Red Mushroom Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Costa Rican Firefly Red Mushroom Beetle
Scientific Name Aspisoma ignitum Oxyporus rufus
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Lampyridae Staphylinidae
Size 8-12 mm 7-12 mm
Habitat Forests Woodlands
Diet Predators Herbivores
Regions Central America, Costa Rica Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Costa Rican Firefly

A neotropical firefly with a dark body and reddish pronotum bearing a median dark stripe. It produces a bright yellow-green flash and is common in lowland tropical forests of Central America.

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Did You Know?

Central American firefly diversity is thought to rival that of Southeast Asia, though far fewer species have been formally described.

Red Mushroom Beetle

A striking red and black rove beetle that lives in and feeds on fresh mushroom caps. Has large, powerful mandibles for cutting fungal tissue. One of the few herbivorous rove beetles.

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Did You Know?

Unusual among rove beetles for being a herbivore, with powerful mandibles adapted for cutting through fungal tissue.