Japanese Whirligig Beetle vs Stinking Longhorn

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Japanese Whirligig Beetle Stinking Longhorn
Scientific Name Gyrinus japonicus Aromia moschata ambrosiaca
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Gyrinidae Cerambycidae
Size 5-8 mm 15-34mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Rivers & Streams
Diet Omnivores Herbivores
Regions Japan, Korea, China Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Japanese Whirligig Beetle

A common whirligig beetle in East Asia found on still and slow-flowing water surfaces. It forms large social groups especially in autumn.

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Did You Know?

It uses the Marangoni effect, exploiting surface tension gradients to propel itself rapidly across water.

Stinking Longhorn

A subspecies of the musk beetle with even more intense metallic coloring and a slightly different fragrance.

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Did You Know?

Releases a pleasant musky rose-like fragrance from thoracic glands that can be smelled from several meters away.