Horned Clubtail vs Common Black Ground Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Horned Clubtail Common Black Ground Beetle
Scientific Name Arigomphus cornutus Pterostichus melanarius
Order Odonata Coleoptera
Family Gomphidae Carabidae
Size 45-55mm 12-18 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Gardens
Diet Predators Predators
Regions North America Europe, Introduced to North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Horned Clubtail

A medium-sized clubtail dragonfly with small horn-like projections on the top of the head. Its body is yellow-green with brown markings. It breeds in clear ponds and lakes.

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Did You Know?

The tiny horns on its head are unique among North American clubtails and are used for species identification.

Common Black Ground Beetle

One of the most abundant ground beetles in European farmland and gardens. It is a generalist predator active mainly at night.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the most commonly caught beetles in pitfall traps across Europe.