Hover Fly vs Army Ant Rove Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hover Fly | Army Ant Rove Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Syrphus ribesii | Ecitomorpha arachnoides |
| Order | Diptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Syrphidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 10-13 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Central America, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Hover Fly
A bright yellow and black banded hoverfly that is an excellent wasp mimic. It hovers motionless in sunbeams before darting to a new position with extraordinary agility.
Did You Know?
Hoverflies are the only insects besides hummingbirds and hawk-moths that can truly hover in one spot, fly backward, and fly sideways with precision.
Army Ant Rove Beetle
An extraordinary myrmecophilous rove beetle whose body remarkably mimics the shape of its host army ants. It lives exclusively among New World army ant colonies, marching with them on raids.
Did You Know?
Its body shape so closely mimics that of its host ant that early entomologists initially classified it as an ant rather than a beetle.