Common Antlion vs Blue Paederine Rove Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Antlion | Blue Paederine Rove Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Myrmeleon immaculatus | Paederus balcanicus |
| Order | Neuroptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Myrmeleontidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 30-45 mm wingspan | 7-9 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | North America | Balkans, Turkey, Middle East |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Common Antlion
A delicate lacewing-like insect whose larvae are famous pit-trap predators. Adults are nocturnal and resemble slender damselflies.
Did You Know?
The larva flicks sand grains at prey to knock them back into its funnel-shaped pit trap.
Blue Paederine Rove Beetle
A colorful Paederus rove beetle with metallic blue elytra and an orange thorax, found in southeastern Europe. Like all Paederus, it contains the blistering agent pederin in its body fluids.
Did You Know?
In Turkey and the Middle East, outbreaks of this species near villages can cause hundreds of dermatitis cases in a single season.