Coastal Rove Beetle vs European Spider Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Coastal Rove Beetle European Spider Wasp
Scientific Name Cafius xantholoma Episyron albonotatum
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Staphylinidae Pompilidae
Size 6-9 mm 8-14 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Beaches & Coastal
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Atlantic coasts of Europe and North Africa Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Coastal Rove Beetle

A medium-sized rove beetle with yellowish elytral margins, highly adapted to life on seashores. It lives under seaweed wrack on beaches where it preys on kelp fly larvae.

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Did You Know?

This beetle can survive temporary submersion in seawater during high tides by trapping an air bubble under its elytra.

European Spider Wasp

A medium-sized black spider wasp with white markings that hunts orb-weaving spiders across Europe. It nests in sandy soil near the edges of paths.

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Did You Know?

It carries captured spiders by flying short distances while holding them underneath its body.