Icelandic Water Beetle vs Wide-Horned Scarab
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Icelandic Water Beetle | Wide-Horned Scarab |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Agabus bipustulatus | Euoniticellus intermedius |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Dytiscidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 9-12 mm | 6-10 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Farmland |
| Diet | Predators | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | Iceland, Scandinavia, northern Russia, subarctic Europe, Arctic Canada | Africa, introduced to Australia, North America, South America |
| 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.
Wide-Horned Scarab
A small, yellow-brown tunneling dung beetle with dark markings on the pronotum. Males have two short broad horns. It is one of the most successful introduced dung beetles in Australia and the Americas.
Did You Know?
Since its introduction, this small beetle has saved Australian ranchers millions of dollars by rapidly burying cattle dung.