Migrant Hawker vs Brown-winged Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Migrant Hawker Brown-winged Rove Beetle
Scientific Name Aeshna mixta Tasgius ater
Order Odonata Coleoptera
Family Aeshnidae Staphylinidae
Size 56-64 mm wingspan 14-18 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Farmland
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Europe, Asia, Africa Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Migrant Hawker

A medium-sized hawker dragonfly that has significantly expanded its range northward in Europe. It flies late into autumn, often the last dragonfly seen each year.

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Did You Know?

This species often forms large feeding swarms in the autumn, with dozens of individuals hunting together over fields and along hedgerows.

Brown-winged Rove Beetle

A large, uniformly dark rove beetle with subtly brownish elytra, closely related to Tasgius melanarius. It prefers more rural habitats than its congener and is often found in agricultural landscapes.

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Did You Know?

Farmers historically considered this beetle beneficial, as it actively hunts crop-damaging leatherjackets in agricultural soils.