Omalium Shore Rove Beetle vs Broad-bodied Chaser

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Omalium Shore Rove Beetle Broad-bodied Chaser
Scientific Name Omalium rivulare Libellula depressa
Order Coleoptera Odonata
Family Staphylinidae Libellulidae
Size 4-5 mm 39-48 mm body length
Habitat Gardens Gardens
Diet Detritivores Omnivores
Regions Europe, Northern Asia Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Omalium Shore Rove Beetle

A small, flattened rove beetle found near water and in compost. It feeds on decaying plant matter as well as small invertebrates.

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Did You Know?

It is among the first insects to colonize fresh compost heaps, arriving within hours.

Broad-bodied Chaser

A stocky dragonfly with a distinctly flattened, broad abdomen that is powder-blue in males and golden-brown in females. It is often the first dragonfly to colonise new garden ponds.

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Did You Know?

It can appear at a new garden pond within days of it being filled with water.