Neotropical Army Ant Guest vs Two-Spot Ladybird

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Neotropical Army Ant Guest Two-Spot Ladybird
Scientific Name Ecitomorpha nevermanni Adalia bipunctata
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Staphylinidae Coccinellidae
Size 4-5 mm 4-5 mm
Habitat Underground Woodlands
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Central America, Northern South America Europe, Western Asia
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.

Two-Spot Ladybird

A small ladybird typically red with two black spots, though melanic (black with red spots) forms are also common. Populations have declined in areas invaded by the harlequin ladybird.

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Did You Know?

The melanic (black) form is more common in polluted industrial cities because dark beetles warm up faster in weak sunlight.