Washerwoman Christmas Beetle vs Ant-Nest Hister Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Washerwoman Christmas Beetle Ant-Nest Hister Beetle
Scientific Name Anoplognathus porosus Hetaerius ferrugineus
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Histeridae
Size 20-28 mm 1.5-2.5 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Root Feeders Detritivores
Regions Australia Europe, North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Washerwoman Christmas Beetle

A large tan to brown Christmas beetle with a rough, pitted elytra surface. It is one of the most widespread species in the genus.

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Did You Know?

Its common name comes from the washboard-like texture on its wing covers.

Ant-Nest Hister Beetle

A tiny, reddish-brown hister beetle that lives exclusively inside ant nests. It is tolerated by its ant hosts and feeds on detritus and small arthropods.

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Did You Know?

It produces appeasement chemicals from thoracic glands that prevent ants from attacking it inside the colony.