Tunnel Beetle vs Argentine Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tunnel Beetle | Argentine Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lymexylon navale | Linepithema humile |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Lymexylidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 7-16mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe | South America, worldwide (invasive) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Tunnel Beetle
A slender cylindrical beetle whose larvae bore straight tunnels through oak timber. Historically damaged ship timber.
Did You Know?
Was a major pest of oak shipbuilding timber, boring tunnels that weakened the hulls of wooden warships.
Argentine Ant
Forms massive supercolonies spanning thousands of kilometers. One supercolony stretches 6,000 km along the Mediterranean coast. Displaces native ant species worldwide.
Did You Know?
Argentine ants have formed a global megacolony — ants from Japan, California, and Europe recognize each other as nestmates and will not fight, forming one worldwide supercolony.