Giant Eastern Crane Fly vs Malagasy Aquatic Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant Eastern Crane Fly Malagasy Aquatic Beetle
Scientific Name Pedicia albivitta Hydrophilus madagascariensis
Order Diptera Coleoptera
Family Pediciidae Hydrophilidae
Size 20-30 mm body length 30-40 mm
Habitat Forests Rivers & Streams
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Eastern North America Madagascar
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Giant Eastern Crane Fly

A large crane fly with long delicate legs and white-banded wing markings found near forest streams. Despite its mosquito-like appearance, it is completely harmless.

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Did You Know?

Its aquatic larvae are voracious predators that hunt other insect larvae in cold forest streams.

Malagasy Aquatic Beetle

A large, shiny black aquatic beetle with a streamlined oval body. It carries a bubble of air beneath its body for underwater breathing and swims with alternating leg strokes.

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Did You Know?

Despite being called water scavenger beetles, the larvae are fierce predators of snails, tadpoles, and other aquatic invertebrates.