Thistle Tortoise Beetle vs African Tiger Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Thistle Tortoise Beetle | African Tiger Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cassida rubiginosa | Manticora latipennis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Chrysomelidae | Cicindelidae |
| Size | 6-8 mm | 40-65 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Herbivores | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, introduced to New Zealand and North America | Southern Africa (Namibia, South Africa, Botswana) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Thistle Tortoise Beetle
A pale green to yellowish-brown tortoise beetle with a somewhat flattened, circular body. It has been used as a biocontrol agent against invasive thistles in several countries.
Did You Know?
It was deliberately introduced to New Zealand and Canada as a biological control agent to combat invasive thistle species.
African Tiger Beetle
The world's largest tiger beetle, a fierce predator with massive jaws. It is flightless and hunts on the ground at night.
Did You Know?
Despite being flightless, it can sprint across sand at speeds that would be equivalent to a human running over 300 km/h.