Neotropical Tiger Beetle vs Soil-feeding Cubitermes Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Neotropical Tiger Beetle Soil-feeding Cubitermes Termite
Scientific Name Pseudoxycheila tarsalis Cubitermes fungifaber
Order Coleoptera Blattodea
Family Cicindelidae Termitidae
Size 15-22 mm Workers 3-5 mm, soldiers 5-7 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Predators Fungus Feeders
Regions Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador Central and West Africa
Conservation Not Evaluated Not Evaluated

Neotropical Tiger Beetle

A fast-running predatory beetle with metallic blue-green elytra and large sickle-shaped mandibles. It actively hunts small invertebrates on the forest floor.

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Did You Know?

It runs so fast while chasing prey that it must periodically stop to re-orient because its eyes cannot process images at full speed.

Soil-feeding Cubitermes Termite

A soil-feeding termite that builds distinctive mushroom-shaped mounds. It processes large volumes of soil to extract organic nutrients.

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Did You Know?

Its mushroom-shaped mound caps shed rainwater efficiently, protecting the colony from tropical downpours.