Common Burying Beetle vs Malagasy Mound-building Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Burying Beetle | Malagasy Mound-building Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nicrophorus vespillo | Microcerotermes subtilis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Blattodea |
| Family | Silphidae | Termitidae |
| Size | 12-22 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Carrion Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Madagascar |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Common Burying Beetle
A large orange-and-black beetle that buries small animal carcasses for its larvae. Uses chemical cues to locate corpses from great distances. Shows remarkable parental care with both parents tending larvae.
Did You Know?
Can bury a dead mouse completely underground in just a few hours by excavating soil from beneath the carcass.
Malagasy Mound-building Termite
A small termite species that constructs conspicuous carton mounds on tree trunks or the ground. Workers are pale and soft-bodied with darkened head capsules.
Did You Know?
Its dark carton mounds are made from a mixture of soil, chewed wood, and fecal material cemented together, and they can persist for years even after the colony dies.