Arctic Ground Beetle vs Jet Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Ground Beetle | Jet Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amara alpina | Stenus comma |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Carabidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm | 5-7 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Herbivores | Predators |
| Regions | Arctic Scandinavia, northern Russia, Siberia, Arctic Canada, Greenland | Europe, Northern Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Arctic Ground Beetle
A small, dark bronze ground beetle found on Arctic and alpine tundra. It has a broad, flattened body ideal for sheltering under stones. Adults are active during the brief Arctic summer and are partially herbivorous.
Did You Know?
This beetle has been found in Quaternary fossil deposits across northern Europe, showing it has inhabited the tundra since the last Ice Age.
Jet Beetle
A tiny, goggle-eyed rove beetle that hunts with a remarkable extendable labium tipped with adhesive pads. It can also skim across water surfaces using a unique chemical propulsion mechanism.
Did You Know?
Stenus beetles secrete stenusine from pygidial glands, which lowers water surface tension behind them, propelling them across water at speeds up to 70 cm per second.