Cardinal Beetle vs Voeltzkow's Nasute Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cardinal Beetle Voeltzkow's Nasute Termite
Scientific Name Pyrochroa coccinea Nasutitermes voeltzkowi
Order Coleoptera Blattodea
Family Pyrochroidae Termitidae
Size 14-18mm 4-6 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Predators Wood Feeders
Regions Europe East Africa, Madagascar
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Cardinal Beetle

A striking flat beetle with a bright scarlet body and large black eyes. Larvae are predators under bark.

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Did You Know?

Named for its bright cardinal-red color that matches the robes of Roman Catholic cardinals.

Voeltzkow's Nasute Termite

An African nasute termite common in East African savanna and woodland. Colonies build conspicuous dark carton nests on trees or construct mound nests on the ground. Workers forage in covered runways along tree trunks and branches.

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Did You Know?

The carton nest material is made from chewed wood fibers mixed with fecal matter, creating a remarkably hard and weather-resistant structure.