Polar Rove Beetle vs Buff-tip
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Polar Rove Beetle | Buff-tip |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Atheta graminicola | Phalera bucephala |
| Order | Coleoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Staphylinidae | Notodontidae |
| Size | 2-4 mm | 55-68 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Heathland | Underground |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Iceland, subarctic Canada | Europe, temperate Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Polar Rove Beetle
A tiny, elongate rove beetle with short wing covers and a flexible abdomen. It is dark brown to black and very agile. It lives among decaying vegetation and is a predator of mites and other small arthropods.
Did You Know?
Rove beetles like this species can raise their abdomens like scorpions to deter predators, though they have no stinger.
Buff-tip
A moth that mimics a broken birch twig with remarkable precision when at rest. Its silvery-grey wings end in a buff-coloured patch resembling exposed wood.
Did You Know?
Caterpillars feed communally in large groups and can completely defoliate small trees.