Telephone Pole Beetle vs Giant Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Telephone Pole Beetle Giant Termite
Scientific Name Micromalthus debilis Macrognathotermes sunteri
Order Coleoptera Blattodea
Family Micromalthidae Termitidae
Size 1.5-2.5 mm Workers 6-8 mm; soldiers up to 12 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Wood Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions North America Australia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Telephone Pole Beetle

The sole surviving member of an ancient beetle family dating back 200 million years.

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Did You Know?

Larvae can reproduce by paedogenesis, giving live birth while still immature.

Giant Termite

One of Australia's largest termite species with soldiers bearing massive curved mandibles. It builds large dome-shaped mounds in tropical woodland.

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Did You Know?

Its soldiers have such powerful jaws they can draw blood if they bite a human finger.