Western Corsair vs Ant Nest Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Western Corsair Ant Nest Beetle
Scientific Name Rasahus thoracicus Paussus favieri
Order Hemiptera Coleoptera
Family Reduviidae Carabidae
Size 18-23 mm 5-8mm
Habitat Woodlands Heathland
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Western North America, Mexico Europe, Africa
Conservation Least Concern Data Deficient

Western Corsair

A large, dark brown assassin bug found in western North America that occasionally enters homes and can deliver an intensely painful bite. It is nocturnal and attracted to lights. It preys on a variety of insects around buildings.

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Did You Know?

Its bite is so painful that it is sometimes mistaken for a scorpion sting, and the pain can persist for hours, earning it frequent complaints to pest control services.

Ant Nest Beetle

A bizarre reddish-brown beetle with swollen club-shaped antennae that lives inside ant nests. It mimics ant chemical signals to avoid detection.

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Did You Know?

It secretes chemicals from its antennae that drug the ants into a stupor allowing it to freely eat their brood.