Box Bug vs Water Measurer
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Box Bug | Water Measurer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gonocerus acuteangulatus | Hydrometra australis |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Coreidae | Hydrometridae |
| Size | 11-14 mm | 8-11 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe | Americas, from southern United States to South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Box Bug
A slender, reddish-brown coreid bug historically restricted to box trees in southern England but now expanding its range northward. It feeds on developing fruits and seeds of box and hawthorn.
Did You Know?
Once Britain's rarest shieldbug confined to a single box woodland, it has expanded dramatically northward since 2000 due to warming temperatures.
Water Measurer
A very slender, elongate semi-aquatic bug that walks slowly on water surfaces in the Americas. Its head is exceptionally long and narrow with a small rostrum at the tip. It moves with slow, deliberate steps along pond margins.
Did You Know?
It is so lightweight that it can walk on the water surface without breaking the surface tension, leaving no visible dimples where its feet contact the water.