Malagasy Bark Mantis vs Large Tropical Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Malagasy Bark Mantis Large Tropical Rove Beetle
Scientific Name Liturgusa malagassa Hesperus rufipennis
Order Mantodea Coleoptera
Family Liturgusidae Staphylinidae
Size 30-40 mm 18-25 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Wood Feeders Predators
Regions Madagascar West Africa, Central Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Malagasy Bark Mantis

A flattened mantis that lives pressed against tree trunks, with mottled brown and gray coloring that perfectly matches bark. It runs rapidly across bark surfaces to catch prey.

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Did You Know?

Rather than ambushing prey from a stationary position like most mantises, it actively pursues insects across tree bark at surprising speed.

Large Tropical Rove Beetle

A large, impressive tropical rove beetle with red elytra and a black head and pronotum. It is one of the larger staphylinids in the African tropical forest fauna.

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Did You Know?

This beetle can deliver a painful bite with its powerful mandibles if handled carelessly, one of the few rove beetles capable of breaking human skin.