Splendid Rove Beetle vs Woolly Hackberry Aphid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Splendid Rove Beetle Woolly Hackberry Aphid
Scientific Name Philonthus splendens Shivaphis celti
Order Coleoptera Hemiptera
Family Staphylinidae Aphididae
Size 11-14 mm 1-2 mm
Habitat Grasslands Woodlands
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Europe East Asia, introduced to North America
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Splendid Rove Beetle

A large, shiny black rove beetle associated with mammal dung. Found across European pasturelands. An effective predator of dung fly larvae.

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Did You Know?

One of the largest European Philonthus species, making it a dominant predator within dung communities.

Woolly Hackberry Aphid

A waxy-white social aphid that feeds on hackberry trees and is notable for its cooperative colony defense. Large groups coordinate to kick and push predators off leaf surfaces.

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Did You Know?

They produce copious white waxy filaments that can accumulate like snow under heavily infested hackberry trees.