Humpbacked Mite-hunter vs Common Graphium

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Humpbacked Mite-hunter Common Graphium
Scientific Name Scydmaenus hellwigii Graphium leonidas
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Staphylinidae Papilionidae
Size 1-1.5 mm 65-80 mm wingspan
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Detritivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, Western Asia West and Central Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Ivory Coast)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Humpbacked Mite-hunter

A diminutive scydmaenine rove beetle with a distinctly humped profile and long, clubbed antennae. It specializes in hunting oribatid mites in the micro-habitats of forest floor detritus.

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Did You Know?

To overcome the mite's armor, this beetle first gnaws a small hole in the mite's exoskeleton, then inserts its mandibles to extract the soft tissues inside.

Common Graphium

A striking swallowtail butterfly with black wings marked with pale blue-green translucent spots. It is a fast and powerful flier often seen in forest clearings. Males gather at mud puddles in large groups.

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Did You Know?

Groups of up to 50 males can be seen drinking together at riverside mud puddles, creating a spectacular display of color.