Passalid Beetle vs Giant Forest Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Passalid Beetle Giant Forest Ant
Scientific Name Pharochilus dilatatus Dinomyrmex gigas
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Passalidae Formicidae
Size 25-35 mm 8-30 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Wood Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions Australia Southeast Asia, Borneo, Malaysia, Thailand
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Passalid Beetle

A large, glossy black beetle that lives in family groups inside rotting logs. Adults and larvae communicate using squeaking sounds produced by rubbing body parts together.

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Did You Know?

Parents chew wood into pulp to feed their young, making them one of few beetles with true parental care.

Giant Forest Ant

One of the largest ant species in the world, with workers reaching 20 mm and queens exceeding 30 mm. It inhabits Southeast Asian rainforest canopies and has powerful mandibles.

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Did You Know?

Despite their enormous size, they are surprisingly timid and prefer to flee rather than bite when disturbed.