Polar Rove Beetle vs Plantain Gall Weevil
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Polar Rove Beetle | Plantain Gall Weevil |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Atheta graminicola | Mecinus pyraster |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Staphylinidae | Curculionidae |
| Size | 2-4 mm | 3-4 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Grasslands |
| Diet | Herbivores | Gall Makers |
| Regions | Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Iceland, subarctic Canada | Europe |
| 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.
Plantain Gall Weevil
A small cylindrical weevil that causes stem galls on plantain. Larvae develop inside swollen plant stems. An inconspicuous but very common species.
Did You Know?
Causes distinctive swellings on plantain stems that are easy to find even when the tiny weevil itself is not visible.