Red Mushroom Beetle vs Dark-stigma Snakefly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Red Mushroom Beetle Dark-stigma Snakefly
Scientific Name Oxyporus rufus Phaeostigma notata
Order Coleoptera Raphidioptera
Family Staphylinidae Raphidiidae
Size 7-12 mm 12-15 mm body
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Herbivores Predators
Regions Europe, Asia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Red Mushroom Beetle

A striking red and black rove beetle that lives in and feeds on fresh mushroom caps. Has large, powerful mandibles for cutting fungal tissue. One of the few herbivorous rove beetles.

💡

Did You Know?

Unusual among rove beetles for being a herbivore, with powerful mandibles adapted for cutting through fungal tissue.

Dark-stigma Snakefly

A primitive predatory insect with an elongated prothorax giving it a snake-like neck. Found on tree trunks in woodland. Both adults and larvae prey on small insects.

💡

Did You Know?

Snakeflies are living fossils with a body plan virtually unchanged for over 140 million years.