Japanese Giant Water Bug vs Slaty Skimmer
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Japanese Giant Water Bug | Slaty Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lethocerus deyrolli | Libellula incesta |
| Order | Hemiptera | Odonata |
| Family | Belostomatidae | Libellulidae |
| Size | 48-65 mm | 45-52 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Predators | Omnivores |
| Regions | East Asia, Japan | North America |
| Conservation | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
Japanese Giant Water Bug
Known as 'ta-garame' in Japanese, this is one of Japan's largest aquatic insects. A fearsome ambush predator that can catch small fish and frogs. Has declined dramatically due to habitat loss.
Did You Know?
Males of this species guard the eggs, which the female glues to emergent vegetation above water, by periodically climbing up to moisten them.
Slaty Skimmer
A dark, slate-blue dragonfly of eastern North America. Mature males are uniformly dark blue-black, making them distinctive at ponds.
Did You Know?
It is one of the few North American dragonflies where males are almost entirely dark blue-black.