Giant Bark Aphid vs Bark-crevice Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant Bark Aphid Bark-crevice Rove Beetle
Scientific Name Longistigma caryae Nudobius lentus
Order Hemiptera Coleoptera
Family Aphididae Staphylinidae
Size 4-6 mm 6-9 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Wood Feeders Predators
Regions North America Europe, Northern Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Giant Bark Aphid

The largest aphid in North America, with a body up to 6 mm long. It is grayish-brown with dark wing markings and feeds in conspicuous colonies on the bark of hardwood trees.

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Did You Know?

Colonies on tree bark produce so much honeydew that it rains down onto cars, sidewalks, and outdoor furniture, creating a sticky nuisance in urban areas.

Bark-crevice Rove Beetle

A slender, flattened rove beetle adapted for life under tight-fitting bark. Its compressed body and strong legs allow it to navigate the narrow subcortical habitat where it hunts bark beetle larvae.

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Did You Know?

This beetle is considered a natural enemy of the European spruce bark beetle and helps regulate bark beetle populations in managed forests.