East Asian Pheropsophus Bombardier vs Spotted Diving Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | East Asian Pheropsophus Bombardier | Spotted Diving Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pheropsophus jessoensis | Graphoderus cinereus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Carabidae | Dytiscidae |
| Size | 15-25 mm | 13-16 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Predators | Omnivores |
| Regions | Japan, Korea, eastern China, Russian Far East | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
East Asian Pheropsophus Bombardier
A large Asian bombardier beetle with an orange head and pronotum and dark blue-black elytra. It is the largest bombardier beetle in Japan and produces powerful chemical sprays.
Did You Know?
It can spray its boiling chemical defense up to 20 centimeters with a popping sound audible from several meters away, and can fire repeatedly up to 20 times before depleting its reserves.
Spotted Diving Beetle
A medium-sized diving beetle with distinctive mottled brown and cream patterning. It inhabits clean, well-vegetated ponds and lakes across Europe.
Did You Know?
Its camouflage pattern makes it almost invisible against the mottled bottom of weedy ponds.