Neotropical Rove Beetle vs Tooth-Necked Fungus Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Neotropical Rove Beetle Tooth-Necked Fungus Beetle
Scientific Name Xanthopygus cognatus Bolitotherus cornutus
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Staphylinidae Tenebrionidae
Size 12-18 mm 10-12 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Fruit Feeders Fungus Feeders
Regions Central and South America, Brazil to Mexico Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Neotropical Rove Beetle

A large, strikingly colored rove beetle with a bright orange pronotum contrasting with black elytra and head. It is one of the most conspicuous staphylinids in the Neotropical region.

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Did You Know?

The bright orange and black coloration of this beetle is thought to be aposematic, warning predators of its unpalatable defensive secretions.

Tooth-Necked Fungus Beetle

A heavily armored, warty brown beetle that feeds on shelf fungi on dead trees. Males have two prominent horns on the thorax.

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Did You Know?

It plays dead so convincingly that it is nearly impossible to distinguish from a piece of bark.