Riffle Beetle vs Obtuse Rove Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Riffle Beetle | Obtuse Rove Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Elmis aenea | Tachyporus obtusus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Elmidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 1.5-2.5 mm | 3-4 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Grasslands |
| Diet | Detritivores | Predators |
| Regions | Europe | Europe, Western Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Riffle Beetle
A tiny, dark beetle that spends its entire adult life underwater clinging to rocks in riffles. It breathes using a plastron, a permanent thin film of air.
Did You Know?
Its plastron air film never needs replenishing, allowing it to remain permanently submerged.
Obtuse Rove Beetle
A tiny, boat-shaped rove beetle with a yellow-brown pronotum and darker elytra. It is common in grasslands and meadows where it hunts among the grass tussocks for small invertebrates.
Did You Know?
This beetle overwinters in grass tussocks at field margins, emerging in spring to colonize crop fields where it provides early-season pest control.