Thai Aquatic Firefly vs Magnetic Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Thai Aquatic Firefly | Magnetic Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Luciola aquatilis | Amitermes meridionalis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Blattodea |
| Family | Lampyridae | Termitidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Forests |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Southeast Asia, Thailand | Oceania |
| Conservation | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
Thai Aquatic Firefly
A small Thai firefly notable for having truly aquatic larvae with functional gills. It was one of the first fireflies confirmed to have larvae that live entirely underwater.
Did You Know?
This species was described in 2010 and was notable for being the first firefly with confirmed fully aquatic larvae possessing tracheal gills.
Magnetic Termite
Builds tall wedge-shaped mounds precisely oriented on a north-south axis to regulate internal temperature. The flat sides face east-west to warm in the morning and cool in the afternoon.
Did You Know?
Every magnetic termite mound in northern Australia points the same direction — perfectly north-south like compass needles, to regulate internal temperature throughout the day.