Featherwing Beetle vs Mound-building Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Featherwing Beetle | Mound-building Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Scydosella musawasensis | Macrotermes gilvus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Blattodea |
| Family | Ptiliidae | Termitidae |
| Size | 0.325 mm | 5-12 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Farmland |
| Diet | Fungus Feeders | Fungus Feeders |
| Regions | Central America | Southeast Asia, from India to the Philippines |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Featherwing Beetle
The smallest known free-living (non-parasitic) insect at just 0.325 mm long. Discovered in Nicaragua in 1999, it feeds on spores of basidiomycete fungi in rotting wood.
Did You Know?
At 0.325 mm, this beetle is about the width of the period at the end of this sentence — yet it is a fully functional adult insect with complete organ systems.
Mound-building Termite
A fungus-growing termite widespread across Southeast Asia that builds subterranean to semi-subterranean nests with low mound structures. It is a significant pest of rubber, coconut, and oil palm plantations. Workers forage via covered galleries.
Did You Know?
In parts of Thailand and Laos, the winged reproductives of this species are fried and eaten as a popular seasonal snack during the early rainy season.