Variable Rove Beetle vs Golden Click Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Variable Rove Beetle Golden Click Beetle
Scientific Name Philonthus varians Selatosomus aeneus
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Staphylinidae Elateridae
Size 5-7 mm 11-16 mm
Habitat Farmland Forests
Diet Predators Root Feeders
Regions Europe, Central Asia Europe, Northern Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Variable Rove Beetle

A small but abundant rove beetle highly variable in elytral coloration, ranging from entirely black to reddish-brown. It is one of Europe's most common staphylinids in agricultural settings.

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Did You Know?

Population studies have shown densities of over 100 individuals per square meter in well-managed agricultural fields.

Golden Click Beetle

A metallic green or bronze click beetle with a bright coppery sheen on the elytra and pronotum. It is common in European forests and grasslands during spring.

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Did You Know?

The brilliant metallic coloration is structural, produced by microscopic surface textures rather than pigments.