Meadow Quedius vs Arctic Aphid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Meadow Quedius | Arctic Aphid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Quedius curtipennis | Acyrthosiphon svalbardicum |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Staphylinidae | Aphididae |
| Size | 7-10 mm | 1-3 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe | Svalbard, Arctic Scandinavia, Greenland |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Meadow Quedius
A common rove beetle of grasslands and meadows with shortened wing cases exposing the flexible abdomen. Found in grass tussocks and at the base of vegetation.
Did You Know?
Despite having short wing cases, it can still fly by unfolding long membranous hindwings stored beneath them.
Arctic Aphid
A small, pale green aphid that is one of the most northerly herbivorous insects on Earth. It feeds on the sap of Dryas octopetala and other Arctic plants. Populations are entirely parthenogenetic in the High Arctic.
Did You Know?
This aphid reproduces entirely without mating in the Arctic, producing live young that are clones of the mother.