Australian Glow-Worm Firefly vs Water-lily Reed Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Australian Glow-Worm Firefly Water-lily Reed Beetle
Scientific Name Atyphella lychnus Donacia simplex
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Lampyridae Chrysomelidae
Size 8-15 mm 7-9 mm
Habitat Forests Ponds & Lakes
Diet Predators Herbivores
Regions Oceania Europe, Asia, North America
Conservation Data Deficient Least Concern

Australian Glow-Worm Firefly

One of Australia's few true firefly species, found in tropical Queensland rainforests. Females are wingless and glow from the forest floor.

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Did You Know?

Australia has surprisingly few firefly species compared to Southeast Asia, with most confined to the wet tropics of Queensland.

Water-lily Reed Beetle

A metallic coppery-bronze aquatic beetle with longitudinal ridges on the elytra. Adults sit on floating leaves of pondweeds and bur-reeds in still or slow-flowing water.

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Did You Know?

Larvae construct a silken cocoon underwater attached to plant roots, filling it with air obtained from the plant's tissues for pupation.