Common Aleocharine vs Arboreal Ground Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Aleocharine | Arboreal Ground Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Atheta coriaria | Dromius quadrimaculatus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Staphylinidae | Carabidae |
| Size | 3-4 mm | 5-7 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Woodlands |
| Diet | Predators | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Holarctic, now distributed globally through commercial biocontrol | Europe, western Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Common Aleocharine
A tiny, dark brown aleocharine rove beetle now commercially sold as a biological control agent. It is an aggressive predator of fungus gnat larvae, thrips, and shore fly larvae in greenhouses.
Did You Know?
This beetle is sold commercially by biocontrol companies and released by the thousands in greenhouses to control fungus gnats organically.
Arboreal Ground Beetle
A small, flattened ground beetle that lives primarily on trees rather than on the ground. It has a dark brown body with four pale spots on its elytra and hides under bark.
Did You Know?
Unlike most ground beetles, it spends its entire life on trees and is rarely found on the ground, challenging the common name of the family.