Cylindrical Bark Hister vs Dinosaur Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cylindrical Bark Hister Dinosaur Ant
Scientific Name Teretrius fabricii Nothomyrmecia macrops
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Histeridae Formicidae
Size 2-3 mm 10-15 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Wood Feeders Omnivores
Regions Europe, North America (introduced) Oceania
Conservation Least Concern Critically Endangered

Cylindrical Bark Hister

A tiny, cylindrical hister beetle that lives under bark of dead trees. Its elongated shape allows it to follow bark beetle tunnels.

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Did You Know?

It was intentionally introduced to North America from Europe to help control the smaller European elm bark beetle.

Dinosaur Ant

Considered the most primitive living ant, often called a living fossil. Discovered in 1931 and then lost for 46 years until rediscovered in 1977 in South Australia.

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Did You Know?

This ant was lost to science for 46 years after its discovery — rediscovered by pure luck when an entomologist pulled over to sleep at the roadside where they happened to live.