Spotted Tumbling Flower Beetle vs Metallic Ectatomma

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Spotted Tumbling Flower Beetle Metallic Ectatomma
Scientific Name Mordellistena pumila Ectatomma ruidum
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Mordellidae Formicidae
Size 2-3.5 mm 6-8 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Pollen Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions Europe Mexico, Central America, Northern South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Spotted Tumbling Flower Beetle

A tiny tumbling flower beetle found on composite flowers in summer. Larvae develop in plant stems. One of the smallest and most frequently encountered mordellid species.

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Did You Know?

So small that it can hide inside individual florets of composite flower heads.

Metallic Ectatomma

A medium-sized ant with a metallic sheen common in neotropical lowland habitats. It forages individually on the ground and nests in small colonies in the soil.

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Did You Know?

Some workers specialize as thieves, stealing food from nestmates of other Ectatomma ruidum colonies rather than foraging.