Neotropical Army Ant Guest vs Coastal Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Neotropical Army Ant Guest Coastal Rove Beetle
Scientific Name Ecitomorpha nevermanni Cafius xantholoma
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Staphylinidae Staphylinidae
Size 4-5 mm 6-9 mm
Habitat Underground Beaches & Coastal
Diet Omnivores Predators
Regions Central America, Northern South America Atlantic coasts of Europe and North Africa
Conservation Data Deficient Least Concern

Neotropical Army Ant Guest

A remarkable myrmecophilous rove beetle that lives with Eciton army ants in Central America. Its body closely mimics the shape and size of its ant hosts.

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Did You Know?

It runs in the army ant raiding columns alongside thousands of ants without being detected as an intruder.

Coastal Rove Beetle

A medium-sized rove beetle with yellowish elytral margins, highly adapted to life on seashores. It lives under seaweed wrack on beaches where it preys on kelp fly larvae.

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Did You Know?

This beetle can survive temporary submersion in seawater during high tides by trapping an air bubble under its elytra.