Cobalt Milkweed Beetle vs Spinifex Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cobalt Milkweed Beetle Spinifex Termite
Scientific Name Chrysochus cobaltinus auratus Nasutitermes longipennis
Order Coleoptera Blattodea
Family Chrysomelidae Termitidae
Size 8-11mm Workers 4-5 mm; soldiers 5-6 mm
Habitat Meadows Grasslands
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions North America Australia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Cobalt Milkweed Beetle

A subspecies of the cobalt blue milkweed beetle with slightly more golden-green coloring.

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Did You Know?

The metallic blue and green coloring warns predators that it has sequestered toxic compounds from milkweed.

Spinifex Termite

A mound-building termite common across the dry interior of Australia. Its hard earthen mounds dot the landscape of arid grasslands and are a key food source for echidnas.

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Did You Know?

Short-beaked echidnas tear open the rock-hard mounds with powerful claws to feast on the termites inside.