Hairy Sexton Rove Beetle vs Round-bodied Scydmaenine

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hairy Sexton Rove Beetle Round-bodied Scydmaenine
Scientific Name Velleius dilatatus Scydmaenus tarsatus
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Staphylinidae Staphylinidae
Size 15-24 mm 1-2 mm
Habitat Woodlands Forests
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Hairy Sexton Rove Beetle

A large, broad rove beetle with flattened expanded elytra, uniquely associated with European hornet nests. It is one of the few rove beetles that lives as an inquiline in social wasp colonies.

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Did You Know?

This beetle has evolved tolerance to hornet stings and can live unharmed in active hornet nests that would be lethal to most other insects.

Round-bodied Scydmaenine

A minute, convex rove beetle of the subfamily Scydmaeninae with a distinctively constricted waist between thorax and abdomen. It is a specialized predator of armored mites in forest soil.

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Did You Know?

This tiny beetle has evolved specialized mandibles that can crack open the heavily armored shells of oribatid mites, prey that most other predators cannot exploit.