Grallatotermes Bark Termite vs Reddish-Brown Stag Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Grallatotermes Bark Termite	Reddish-Brown Stag Rove Beetle
Scientific Name	Grallatotermes africanus	Platydracus cinnamopterus
Order	Blattodea	Coleoptera
Family	Termitidae	Staphylinidae
Size	3-5 mm	12-18 mm
Habitat	Forests	Forests
Diet	Gall Makers	Detritivores
Regions	West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa	Eastern North America
Conservation	Least Concern	Least Concern

Grallatotermes Bark Termite

An African arboreal termite that builds thin sheeting galleries over tree bark surfaces. Workers forage beneath these protective coverings, consuming bark and lichen. The species is common in tropical African forests.

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Did You Know?

The thin carton galleries this species builds over tree bark are so extensive they can cover entire tree trunks, making the tree appear to be coated in mud.

Reddish-Brown Stag Rove Beetle

A robust rove beetle with cinnamon-brown elytra and a black head. It is commonly found under bark and in forest leaf litter.

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Did You Know?

Males have enlarged mandibles used in combat with rivals over territory and mates.