Dune Spoonwing vs Pasimachus Flat Ground Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dune Spoonwing Pasimachus Flat Ground Beetle
Scientific Name Halter halteratus Pasimachus depressus
Order Neuroptera Coleoptera
Family Nemopteridae Carabidae
Size 20-28 mm wingspan (forewings) 22-30 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Deserts & Drylands
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Mediterranean Basin, North Africa Southeastern United States
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Dune Spoonwing

A small nemopterid with spoon-tipped hindwings found in coastal Mediterranean habitats. Commonly seen fluttering over sandy ground near the sea.

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Did You Know?

The species name 'halteratus' refers to the haltere-like form of its modified hindwings.

Pasimachus Flat Ground Beetle

A large, broad, flattened shiny black beetle with massive mandibles and distinctive blue-margined elytra. It is one of the most imposing ground beetles in North America.

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Did You Know?

Its immensely powerful mandibles can easily pierce through the tough exoskeleton of other beetles, and it has been observed killing and eating June bugs and other scarabs.