Red Mushroom Beetle vs Dock Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Red Mushroom Beetle Dock Sawfly
Scientific Name Oxyporus rufus Ametastegia glabrata
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Staphylinidae Tenthredinidae
Size 7-12 mm 5-7 mm
Habitat Woodlands Farmland
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Asia Europe, introduced to North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Red Mushroom Beetle

A striking red and black rove beetle that lives in and feeds on fresh mushroom caps. Has large, powerful mandibles for cutting fungal tissue. One of the few herbivorous rove beetles.

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Did You Know?

Unusual among rove beetles for being a herbivore, with powerful mandibles adapted for cutting through fungal tissue.

Dock Sawfly

A small, shiny dark green to black sawfly with pale legs. Larvae are pale green caterpillar-like grubs that feed on dock and sorrel leaves.

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Did You Know?

In North America, dock sawfly larvae sometimes bore into apples to pupate, making them a nuisance pest in orchards despite not actually feeding on the fruit.