Japanese Giant Water Bug vs Yellow-Margined Water Scavenger Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Japanese Giant Water Bug | Yellow-Margined Water Scavenger Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lethocerus deyrolli | Hydrochara caraboides |
| Order | Hemiptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Belostomatidae | Hydrophilidae |
| Size | 48-65 mm | 14-18 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Predators | Scavengers |
| Regions | East Asia, Japan | Europe, Western Asia |
| Conservation | Vulnerable | Near Threatened |
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.
Yellow-Margined Water Scavenger Beetle
A large dark water scavenger beetle with yellowish margins on the pronotum. It inhabits well-vegetated ponds and is declining in parts of northern Europe.
Did You Know?
Larvae are fierce predators that dispatch prey much larger than themselves, including tadpoles.