Xanthostigma Snakefly vs African Soldier Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Xanthostigma Snakefly | African Soldier Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Xanthostigma xanthostigma | Cantharis africana |
| Order | Raphidioptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Raphidiidae | Cantharidae |
| Size | 12-18 mm | 8-12 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Heathland |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Africa, Eastern Africa, Southern Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Xanthostigma Snakefly
A snakefly with a distinctive yellow wing stigma from which it derives its name. It is found in European woodlands where it hunts small insects on tree trunks.
Did You Know?
Snakefly larvae develop under bark where they are voracious predators of bark beetle larvae and other wood-boring insects.
African Soldier Beetle
A soft-bodied soldier beetle from Sub-Saharan Africa with orange-brown elytra and a darker head region. Like other cantharids, it has flexible elytra and is an active predator of small insects on flowers.
Did You Know?
Soldier beetles are important pollinators in their own right, transferring pollen between flowers as they hunt for prey.