Pond Olive Mayfly vs African Myrmecophile Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pond Olive Mayfly African Myrmecophile Rove Beetle
Scientific Name Cloeon dipterum Dorylomimus kohli
Order Ephemeroptera Coleoptera
Family Baetidae Staphylinidae
Size 6-9 mm 4-6 mm
Habitat Gardens Rivers & Streams
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Europe, Asia Central Africa, West Africa
Conservation Least Concern Data Deficient

Pond Olive Mayfly

One of the few mayflies that breeds in still water including garden ponds and rain barrels. Unusually for a mayfly, females are ovoviviparous.

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Did You Know?

This is one of the only mayflies that gives birth to live nymphs rather than laying eggs, a unique trait in the order.

African Myrmecophile Rove Beetle

A rove beetle that lives with army ant colonies in tropical Africa, mimicking the ants in body shape. It travels with the nomadic ant colony during emigrations.

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Did You Know?

Its body shape so closely mimics that of its host ants that it was initially described as an ant rather than a beetle.