Graceful Winter Stonefly vs Blue Paederine Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Graceful Winter Stonefly Blue Paederine Rove Beetle
Scientific Name Capnia gracilaria Paederus balcanicus
Order Plecoptera Coleoptera
Family Capniidae Staphylinidae
Size 4-6 mm 7-9 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Detritivores Predators
Regions North America Balkans, Turkey, Middle East
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Graceful Winter Stonefly

A minute stonefly of cold North American headwater streams emerging in winter. Females are often short-winged or wingless.

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Did You Know?

Females sacrifice flight ability for greater egg production by reducing or eliminating their wings.

Blue Paederine Rove Beetle

A colorful Paederus rove beetle with metallic blue elytra and an orange thorax, found in southeastern Europe. Like all Paederus, it contains the blistering agent pederin in its body fluids.

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Did You Know?

In Turkey and the Middle East, outbreaks of this species near villages can cause hundreds of dermatitis cases in a single season.