Six-spotted Thrips vs Svalbard Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Six-spotted Thrips Svalbard Rove Beetle
Scientific Name Scolothrips sexmaculatus Atheta islandica
Order Thysanoptera Coleoptera
Family Thripidae Staphylinidae
Size 0.8-1.0 mm 2-3 mm
Habitat Farmland Heathland
Diet Predators Predators
Regions North America, Europe Iceland, Svalbard, northern Scandinavia, Greenland
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Six-spotted Thrips

A tiny predatory thrips with three dark spots on each forewing. It is a valuable natural enemy of spider mites in agriculture.

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Did You Know?

A single six-spotted thrips can destroy over 100 spider mite eggs per day.

Svalbard Rove Beetle

A tiny, dark brown rove beetle found in some of the most northerly terrestrial habitats on Earth. It shelters in bird nests and guano deposits where the microclimate is warmer. Adults are active predators of mites.

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Did You Know?

This beetle survives in the High Arctic partly by living in seabird colonies where decomposing guano generates warmth.