Four-Spotted Carrion Beetle vs Four-Spotted Chaser
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Four-Spotted Carrion Beetle | Four-Spotted Chaser |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendroxena quadrimaculata | Libellula quadrimaculata |
| Order | Coleoptera | Odonata |
| Family | Silphidae | Libellulidae |
| Size | 12-16 mm | 60-70 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Europe, Asia, North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Four-Spotted Carrion Beetle
A yellowish-brown beetle with four dark spots on its elytra, unusual for a silphid because it hunts in trees rather than on the ground. It climbs trunks searching for caterpillars.
Did You Know?
It is one of the only carrion beetles that has abandoned carrion feeding entirely, becoming an arboreal caterpillar predator.
Four-Spotted Chaser
A medium-sized dragonfly with two dark spots on the leading edge of each wing, totaling four. It is one of the most widespread dragonflies in the Northern Hemisphere.
Did You Know?
This species occasionally undertakes mass migrations in Europe, with millions of individuals seen flying together in a single direction.