Shiny Lined Rove Beetle vs Water-lily Reed Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Shiny Lined Rove Beetle Water-lily Reed Beetle
Scientific Name Xantholinus longiventris Donacia simplex
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Staphylinidae Chrysomelidae
Size 6-8 mm 7-9 mm
Habitat Underground Ponds & Lakes
Diet Predators Herbivores
Regions Europe, Western Asia, introduced to North America Europe, Asia, North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Shiny Lined Rove Beetle

A distinctively elongate rove beetle with a shiny black head and pronotum, and reddish-brown elytra. It hunts in narrow spaces and is commonly found in synanthropic habitats.

💡

Did You Know?

The disproportionately large mandibles of this beetle, relative to its narrow head, allow it to subdue prey in tight spaces where it has a significant advantage.

Water-lily Reed Beetle

A metallic coppery-bronze aquatic beetle with longitudinal ridges on the elytra. Adults sit on floating leaves of pondweeds and bur-reeds in still or slow-flowing water.

💡

Did You Know?

Larvae construct a silken cocoon underwater attached to plant roots, filling it with air obtained from the plant's tissues for pupation.