Mountain Flower Rove Beetle vs Western Water Penny

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mountain Flower Rove Beetle Western Water Penny
Scientific Name Eusphalerum alpinum Psephenus falli
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Staphylinidae Psephenidae
Size 2-3 mm 4-5 mm (adults)
Habitat Mountains Mountains
Diet Pollen Feeders Omnivores
Regions Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians Western North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Mountain Flower Rove Beetle

A small, dark omaline rove beetle adapted to alpine environments, where it visits flowers above the treeline. It is one of the few staphylinids found at very high elevations.

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Did You Know?

This beetle survives harsh alpine winters by burrowing into deep soil layers below the frost line, remaining dormant for up to seven months.

Western Water Penny

A water penny beetle restricted to clean mountain streams in western North America. Its disc-shaped larvae are indicators of high water quality.

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Did You Know?

The presence of water penny larvae is used by biologists as a reliable indicator that a stream is unpolluted.