Japanese Robber Fly vs Green Protea Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Japanese Robber Fly Green Protea Beetle
Scientific Name Cophinopoda chinensis Smaragdesthes oertzeni
Order Diptera Coleoptera
Family Asilidae Scarabaeidae
Size 20-30 mm 12-22 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Predators Nectar Feeders
Regions East Asia Central Africa (DRC, Congo, Cameroon)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Japanese Robber Fly

A large East Asian robber fly with powerful raptorial legs. It preys on cicadas and large beetles in montane forests.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few flies capable of overpowering and killing adult cicadas.

Green Protea Beetle

A small but brilliantly metallic green beetle found in Central African forests. It is a frequent visitor to flowering trees and shrubs. The elytra have a smooth, highly reflective surface.

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Did You Know?

The intense green color of this beetle remains vivid even in preserved specimens, unlike many other insects whose colors fade.