Cereal Leaf Beetle vs Xantholine Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cereal Leaf Beetle Xantholine Rove Beetle
Scientific Name Oulema melanopus Xantholinus linearis
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Chrysomelidae Staphylinidae
Size 4-5 mm 6-9 mm
Habitat Farmland Woodlands
Diet Seed Feeders Predators
Regions Europe, North America (invasive), Asia Europe, Asia, North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Cereal Leaf Beetle

A small beetle with metallic blue-black elytra and a red-orange thorax. Its larvae strip the upper leaf surface of cereal crops.

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Did You Know?

Larvae carry a shield of their own faeces on their backs to deter predators and prevent desiccation.

Xantholine Rove Beetle

An elongated, shiny black rove beetle with a distinctive long head. It hunts small invertebrates in soil and under bark.

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Did You Know?

Its extremely elongated head allows it to probe deep into bark crevices and soil pores for hidden prey.