Neotropical Army Ant Guest vs Phasia Tachinid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Neotropical Army Ant Guest Phasia Tachinid
Scientific Name Ecitomorpha nevermanni Phasia hemiptera
Order Coleoptera Diptera
Family Staphylinidae Tachinidae
Size 4-5 mm 7-10 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Omnivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Central America, Northern South America Europe
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.

Phasia Tachinid

A parasitic fly with distinctive dark-tipped wings that parasitizes shieldbug species. Males have broader wings than females. Adults visit flowers for nectar.

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Did You Know?

Larvae develop inside living shieldbugs, eventually consuming and killing their hosts.