Giant Agave Bug vs Polar Rove Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Giant Agave Bug | Polar Rove Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Acanthocephala thomasi | Atheta graminicola |
| Order | Hemiptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Coreidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 20-30 mm | 2-4 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | North America, Mexico | Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Iceland, subarctic Canada |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Giant Agave Bug
A large coreid bug from the southwestern US and Mexico that feeds on agave and cacti. Males have impressively swollen hind femora used in combat.
Did You Know?
Males use their muscular hind legs like clubs, wrestling rival males off branches to win mating rights.
Polar Rove Beetle
A tiny, elongate rove beetle with short wing covers and a flexible abdomen. It is dark brown to black and very agile. It lives among decaying vegetation and is a predator of mites and other small arthropods.
Did You Know?
Rove beetles like this species can raise their abdomens like scorpions to deter predators, though they have no stinger.