Spanish Fly Beetle vs Black Imported Fire Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Spanish Fly Beetle Black Imported Fire Ant
Scientific Name Berberomeloe majalis Solenopsis richteri
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Meloidae Formicidae
Size 30-70mm 2-6 mm
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Herbivores Seed Feeders
Regions Europe, Africa South America, Southeastern United States
Conservation Vulnerable Not Evaluated

Spanish Fly Beetle

A huge wingless blister beetle with a massively swollen red and black banded abdomen. The largest European meloid.

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Did You Know?

One of the largest beetle species in Europe with a body so heavy it resembles a fat caterpillar more than a beetle.

Black Imported Fire Ant

A dark-colored fire ant native to South America that has established populations in the southeastern United States. They build large earthen mounds in open areas.

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Did You Know?

They frequently hybridize with the red imported fire ant in overlapping ranges, producing hybrid populations.