Pale Click Beetle vs Red and Black Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pale Click Beetle Red and Black Rove Beetle
Scientific Name Agrypnus murinus Paederus riparius
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Elateridae Staphylinidae
Size 12-17 mm 7-10 mm
Habitat Farmland Rivers & Streams
Diet Predators Omnivores
Regions Europe, Western Asia Europe, Asia, Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Pale Click Beetle

A distinctive European click beetle covered in a mosaic pattern of grey and brown scales giving it excellent camouflage on bark and soil. The body is robust and somewhat flattened.

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Did You Know?

The mottled grey pattern provides excellent camouflage, making this beetle nearly invisible when resting on lichen-covered bark.

Red and Black Rove Beetle

A small but notorious rove beetle with a red thorax and abdomen and blue-black elytra. Its hemolymph contains pederin, a potent blistering toxin.

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Did You Know?

Crushing this beetle on skin causes painful blistering dermatitis known as Paederus dermatitis.