Icelandic Water Beetle vs Japanese Rose Chafer

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Icelandic Water Beetle Japanese Rose Chafer
Scientific Name Agabus bipustulatus Cetonia pilifera
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Dytiscidae Scarabaeidae
Size 9-12 mm 18-25 mm
Habitat Tundra & Arctic Orchards
Diet Predators Wood Feeders
Regions Iceland, Scandinavia, northern Russia, subarctic Europe, Arctic Canada East Asia, Japan
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Icelandic Water Beetle

A medium-sized, oval, dark brown diving beetle found in cold ponds and lakes. It carries a silvery air bubble under its elytra for breathing underwater. Adults are strong fliers and can colonize isolated Arctic ponds.

💡

Did You Know?

This beetle is one of the most widespread diving beetles in the Arctic and can fly long distances to colonize new ponds created by permafrost thaw.

Japanese Rose Chafer

A metallic green flower beetle common in Japan, known as 'shirosujikogane.' Found on flowers and tree sap during summer months. Has a distinctive buzzy flight pattern.

💡

Did You Know?

Unlike most beetles that lift their wing covers to fly, flower chafers can fly with their elytra closed by extending their wings through a gap on the sides.