Icelandic Water Beetle vs Woolly Hackberry Aphid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Icelandic Water Beetle | Woolly Hackberry Aphid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Agabus bipustulatus | Shivaphis celti |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Dytiscidae | Aphididae |
| Size | 9-12 mm | 1-2 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Woodlands |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Iceland, Scandinavia, northern Russia, subarctic Europe, Arctic Canada | East Asia, introduced to North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
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.
Woolly Hackberry Aphid
A waxy-white social aphid that feeds on hackberry trees and is notable for its cooperative colony defense. Large groups coordinate to kick and push predators off leaf surfaces.
Did You Know?
They produce copious white waxy filaments that can accumulate like snow under heavily infested hackberry trees.