Flat Bark Beetle of Madeira vs West African Lantern Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Flat Bark Beetle of Madeira West African Lantern Bug
Scientific Name Tarphius rufonodulosus Zanna tenebrosa
Order Coleoptera Hemiptera
Family Zopheridae Fulgoridae
Size 0.3-0.5 cm 50-70 mm including head process
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Fungus Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Portugal West and Central Africa (Cameroon, Gabon, DRC, Nigeria)
Conservation Critically Endangered Least Concern

Flat Bark Beetle of Madeira

A small flattened beetle endemic to the laurel forests of Madeira. It lives under the bark of dead Laurus and Ocotea trees.

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Did You Know?

Madeira's laurel forests are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and harbor dozens of unique beetle species.

West African Lantern Bug

A large planthopper with an elongated head process and colorful wings. The forewings are cryptically patterned while the hindwings display bright colors when spread. Despite its name, it does not produce light.

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Did You Know?

The enlarged head process was once thought to glow in the dark, giving this group its misleading common name of lantern bugs.