Fen Rove Beetle vs Western Cicada Killer

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Fen Rove Beetle Western Cicada Killer
Scientific Name Stenus providus Sphecius grandis
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Staphylinidae Crabronidae
Size 3.5-4.5 mm 30-55 mm
Habitat Wetlands Deserts & Drylands
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Northern Europe Western United States from the Great Plains to the Pacific coast
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Fen Rove Beetle

A tiny rove beetle of wetland margins with exceptionally large eyes for a beetle its size. Uses a retractable sticky labial pad to catch springtails. Confined to fen habitats.

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Did You Know?

Has proportionally the largest eyes of any British beetle relative to its body size.

Western Cicada Killer

A massive solitary wasp of the American West that hunts cicadas to provision its underground burrows. It is slightly larger and paler than its eastern relative.

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Did You Know?

Despite its intimidating size, it is generally docile toward humans and males cannot sting at all.