Golden Rove Beetle vs Cypress Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Golden Rove Beetle Cypress Sawfly
Scientific Name Platydracus stercorarius Monoctenus juniperi
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Staphylinidae Diprionidae
Size 13-18 mm 6-8 mm
Habitat Gardens Gardens
Diet Dung Feeders Herbivores
Regions Europe, Western Asia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Golden Rove Beetle

A striking rove beetle with dense golden setae covering its pronotum and elytra, giving it a shimmering appearance. It is strongly associated with dung and compost habitats across Europe.

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Did You Know?

Despite living in dung, this beetle keeps itself immaculately clean by constantly grooming with specialized leg brushes.

Cypress Sawfly

A small sawfly with pectinate antennae in males whose green larvae feed on juniper and cypress foliage. Heavy infestations can discolor and thin ornamental junipers.

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Did You Know?

This is one of the few diprionid sawflies that feeds on cupressaceous conifers rather than the more typical pine or spruce hosts.