Arctic Water Bug vs Blue Death-feigning Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Water Bug | Blue Death-feigning Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Arctocorisa carinata | Asbolus verrucosus |
| Order | Hemiptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Corixidae | Tenebrionidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm | 18-21mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Detritivores | Detritivores |
| Regions | Arctic Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Siberia, Arctic Canada | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Arctic Water Bug
A small aquatic bug with a flattened body and oar-like hind legs for swimming. The back has fine transverse lines. It inhabits cold tundra ponds and lakes, swimming actively even in near-freezing water.
Did You Know?
Males produce sound by rubbing their front legs against their head to attract females, making them among the loudest animals relative to body size.
Blue Death-feigning Beetle
A rounded blue-grey desert beetle covered in a waxy powder-blue coating. When threatened it flips onto its back and plays dead with legs extended stiffly.
Did You Know?
Its death-feigning behavior is so convincing that predators lose interest and the beetle can remain motionless for hours.