Xantholine Rove Beetle vs Rugose Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Xantholine Rove Beetle Rugose Rove Beetle
Scientific Name Xantholinus linearis Anotylus rugosus
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Staphylinidae Staphylinidae
Size 6-9 mm 3-5 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Predators Scavengers
Regions Europe, Asia, North America Cosmopolitan: Europe, Asia, Africa, Americas, Australasia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Xantholine Rove Beetle

An elongated, shiny black rove beetle with a distinctive long head. It hunts small invertebrates in soil and under bark.

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Did You Know?

Its extremely elongated head allows it to probe deep into bark crevices and soil pores for hidden prey.

Rugose Rove Beetle

A small, dark oxytelline rove beetle with a heavily rugose (wrinkled) surface texture. It is extremely common in dung and decaying organic matter across much of the temperate world.

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Did You Know?

This is one of the most cosmopolitan beetle species in the world, found on every continent except Antarctica.