Silken Fungus Beetle vs Pictured Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Silken Fungus Beetle	Pictured Rove Beetle
Scientific Name	Cryptophagus lycoperdi	Paederus littoralis
Order	Coleoptera	Coleoptera
Family	Cryptophagidae	Staphylinidae
Size	2-3 mm	7-10mm
Habitat	Woodlands	Wetlands
Diet	Fungus Feeders	Predators
Regions	Europe	Europe, Asia, Africa
Conservation	Least Concern	Least Concern

Silken Fungus Beetle

A tiny beetle found inside puffball fungi and in moldy grain stores. Covered in fine silky hairs. Part of a poorly-known beetle family that feeds on fungal spores and molds.

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Did You Know?

So tiny and hidden inside puffball fungi that it is almost never seen despite being common.

Pictured Rove Beetle

A slender black and orange rove beetle with short elytra exposing most of its abdomen. It contains the toxin pederin which causes severe skin blisters.

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Did You Know?

Pederin produced by symbiotic bacteria in the beetle is more potent drop for drop than cobra venom but is only released when the beetle is crushed on skin.