Common Aleocharine vs Jewel Ground Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Aleocharine | Jewel Ground Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Atheta coriaria | Carabus auronitens |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Staphylinidae | Carabidae |
| Size | 3-4 mm | 22-30 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Forests |
| Diet | Predators | Omnivores |
| Regions | Holarctic, now distributed globally through commercial biocontrol | Central Europe, Western Europe |
| 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.
Jewel Ground Beetle
A strikingly beautiful ground beetle with bright gold and green metallic coloring. It inhabits mountain forests across central Europe.
Did You Know?
Its brilliant golden color comes from microscopic surface structures that diffract light rather than from pigments.