Eyed Elater Glowworm vs Obtuse Rove Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Eyed Elater Glowworm | Obtuse Rove Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phengodes fusciceps | Tachyporus obtusus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Phengodidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 15-25 mm (females) | 3-4 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Predators |
| Regions | Eastern United States | Europe, Western Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Eyed Elater Glowworm
A railroad worm beetle whose larviform females emit light from paired organs along the body. Males are short-lived, winged, and do not glow.
Did You Know?
Females produce both green light from their body segments and red light from their head, resembling a tiny railroad train at night.
Obtuse Rove Beetle
A tiny, boat-shaped rove beetle with a yellow-brown pronotum and darker elytra. It is common in grasslands and meadows where it hunts among the grass tussocks for small invertebrates.
Did You Know?
This beetle overwinters in grass tussocks at field margins, emerging in spring to colonize crop fields where it provides early-season pest control.