Elongate Paederine vs Hellgrammite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Elongate Paederine Hellgrammite
Scientific Name Lathrobium elongatum Nigronia serricornis
Order Coleoptera Megaloptera
Family Staphylinidae Corydalidae
Size 7-9 mm 40-60 mm wingspan
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Root Feeders Predators
Regions Europe Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Elongate Paederine

A very slender, reddish-brown paederine rove beetle that lives deep within waterlogged soils near streams. Its extremely narrow body is adapted for burrowing through saturated soil.

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Did You Know?

This beetle can survive prolonged submersion in water, breathing through a plastron of air trapped by microscopic hairs on its body surface.

Hellgrammite

A dark-colored dobsonfly whose larvae, known as hellgrammites, are prized as fishing bait. Adults are smaller than Corydalus and have serrated antennae.

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Did You Know?

Hellgrammite larvae are so effective as fishing bait that they are commercially collected and sold to anglers.