Glowworm Beetle vs Green Protea Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Glowworm Beetle Green Protea Beetle
Scientific Name Phengodes plumosa Smaragdesthes oertzeni
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Phengodidae Scarabaeidae
Size 10-30 mm (female) 12-22 mm
Habitat Farmland Forests
Diet Omnivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Eastern North America Central Africa (DRC, Congo, Cameroon)
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Glowworm Beetle

A soft-bodied beetle whose larviform females glow with paired green lanterns along their body. Males are winged but do not glow.

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Did You Know?

Unlike fireflies, the female never develops wings and retains a larva-like form throughout life.

Green Protea Beetle

A small but brilliantly metallic green beetle found in Central African forests. It is a frequent visitor to flowering trees and shrubs. The elytra have a smooth, highly reflective surface.

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Did You Know?

The intense green color of this beetle remains vivid even in preserved specimens, unlike many other insects whose colors fade.