Borneo Giant Firefly vs Hairy Whirligig Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Borneo Giant Firefly Hairy Whirligig Beetle
Scientific Name Lamprigera borneensis Orectochilus villosus
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Lampyridae Gyrinidae
Size 25-60 mm (female), 12-18 mm (male) 5-7 mm
Habitat Forests Rivers & Streams
Diet Predators Omnivores
Regions Southeast Asia, Borneo Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Borneo Giant Firefly

A very large tropical firefly from Borneo with massive larviform females that glow brightly. Males are smaller and winged with well-developed eyes for locating glowing females on the forest floor.

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Did You Know?

The enormous larviform females are sometimes mistaken for caterpillars or worms by people encountering them on the forest floor.

Hairy Whirligig Beetle

A nocturnal whirligig beetle covered in fine golden hairs that trap air underwater. Unlike other whirligigs it hides under stones by day.

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Did You Know?

It is the only European whirligig beetle that is primarily nocturnal rather than diurnal.