Bark Gnawing Beetle vs Pictured Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Bark Gnawing Beetle Pictured Rove Beetle
Scientific Name Trogossita japonica Paederus littoralis
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Trogossitidae Staphylinidae
Size 12-18 mm 7-10mm
Habitat Woodlands Wetlands
Diet Predators Predators
Regions East Asia Europe, Asia, Africa
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Bark Gnawing Beetle

A predatory beetle found under bark where it hunts wood-boring larvae. Its flattened body is well suited to life in bark crevices.

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Did You Know?

It is considered a beneficial species because it preys on destructive bark beetles.

Pictured Rove Beetle

A slender black and orange rove beetle with short elytra exposing most of its abdomen. It contains the toxin pederin which causes severe skin blisters.

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Did You Know?

Pederin produced by symbiotic bacteria in the beetle is more potent drop for drop than cobra venom but is only released when the beetle is crushed on skin.