Green-and-gold Christmas Beetle vs Microtermes Subterranean Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Green-and-gold Christmas Beetle Microtermes Subterranean Termite
Scientific Name Anoplognathus viridiaeneus Microtermes obesi
Order Coleoptera Blattodea
Family Scarabaeidae Termitidae
Size 20-28 mm 2-4 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Caves
Diet Root Feeders Root Feeders
Regions Australia India, Pakistan, Middle East
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Green-and-gold Christmas Beetle

A striking iridescent beetle with green and gold metallic sheen on its elytra. It is one of the most colorful of all Australian Christmas beetles.

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Did You Know?

Its green and gold coloring coincidentally matches Australia's national sporting colors.

Microtermes Subterranean Termite

A small fungus-growing termite widespread across South Asia and the Middle East. Unlike larger Macrotermes, colonies build entirely subterranean nests without visible mound structures. Workers are tiny and feed on root material and buried wood.

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Did You Know?

Despite being among the smallest termites, colonies of this species are major agricultural pests, attacking wheat and sugarcane roots from below ground.