Snipe Fly vs Obtuse Rove Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Snipe Fly | Obtuse Rove Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rhagio scolopaceus | Tachyporus obtusus |
| Order | Diptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Rhagionidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 10-15 mm | 3-4 mm |
| Habitat | Hedgerows | Grasslands |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Europe | Europe, Western Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Snipe Fly
A slender, brownish fly with a pointed abdomen and spotted wings that typically perches head-down on tree trunks and fence posts. Adults are ambush predators of smaller insects.
Did You Know?
This fly characteristically rests head-down on vertical surfaces, earning it the folk name "down-looker fly," and lunges at passing prey from this position.
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.