Aquatic Crane Fly vs Bordered Great Diving Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Aquatic Crane Fly Bordered Great Diving Beetle
Scientific Name Antocha saxicola Dytiscus circumflexus
Order Diptera Coleoptera
Family Limoniidae Dytiscidae
Size 5-8 mm 28-34 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Ponds & Lakes
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions North America Europe
Conservation Least Concern Near Threatened

Aquatic Crane Fly

A small crane fly whose larvae build silken cases on submerged rocks in fast-flowing streams. Larvae are true aquatic inhabitants rather than semi-terrestrial.

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Did You Know?

Larvae are among the few crane flies that are fully aquatic throughout development, never leaving the water.

Bordered Great Diving Beetle

A large British diving beetle similar to D. marginalis but with expanded yellow margins. It prefers larger, more permanent water bodies.

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Did You Know?

Females have deeply grooved elytra while males have smooth ones, making the sexes easy to distinguish.