Termitophilous Rove Beetle vs Vedalia Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Termitophilous Rove Beetle | Vedalia Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Corotoca melantho | Novius cardinalis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Staphylinidae | Coccinellidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm (body length without physogastric abdomen) | 3-4 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Orchards |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Brazil, tropical South America | Australia, Worldwide (introduced) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Termitophilous Rove Beetle
A bizarre, physogastric rove beetle that lives inside termite nests in Brazil. The female's abdomen becomes enormously swollen and translucent, resembling a termite queen in miniature.
Did You Know?
This is one of the only beetles known to give live birth (viviparity); fully formed larvae emerge from the female rather than eggs.
Vedalia Beetle
A small red-and-black ladybird famous as the first successful biological control agent in history. It saved the California citrus industry from the cottony cushion scale in 1889.
Did You Know?
Its introduction to California is considered the founding event of modern biological pest control.