Svalbard Rove Beetle vs East Asian Pheropsophus Bombardier

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Svalbard Rove Beetle	East Asian Pheropsophus Bombardier
Scientific Name	Atheta islandica	Pheropsophus jessoensis
Order	Coleoptera	Coleoptera
Family	Staphylinidae	Carabidae
Size	2-3 mm	15-25 mm
Habitat	Heathland	Farmland
Diet	Predators	Predators
Regions	Iceland, Svalbard, northern Scandinavia, Greenland	Japan, Korea, eastern China, Russian Far East
Conservation	Least Concern	Least Concern

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.

East Asian Pheropsophus Bombardier

A large Asian bombardier beetle with an orange head and pronotum and dark blue-black elytra. It is the largest bombardier beetle in Japan and produces powerful chemical sprays.

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Did You Know?

It can spray its boiling chemical defense up to 20 centimeters with a popping sound audible from several meters away, and can fire repeatedly up to 20 times before depleting its reserves.