Pacific Seashore Rove Beetle vs Eastern Pondhawk

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pacific Seashore Rove Beetle Eastern Pondhawk
Scientific Name Cafius canescens Erythemis simplicicollis
Order Coleoptera Odonata
Family Staphylinidae Libellulidae
Size 5-7 mm 55-63 mm wingspan
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Ponds & Lakes
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Pacific coast of North America, Hawaii North America, Central America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Pacific Seashore Rove Beetle

A small, grayish-pubescent rove beetle found along the Pacific coast of the Americas under kelp and seaweed deposits. It is an important predator of seaweed fly larvae on beaches.

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Did You Know?

This species has colonized the remote Hawaiian Islands, likely arriving on floating mats of kelp and seaweed across the Pacific Ocean.

Eastern Pondhawk

A robust skimmer dragonfly where mature males are powdery blue and females are vivid green. It is an aggressive predator that ambushes prey from low perches.

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Did You Know?

Eastern pondhawks are fierce predators that regularly attack and eat other dragonflies, including species larger than themselves.