Jewel Bug vs Common Pond Skater

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Jewel Bug Common Pond Skater
Scientific Name Chrysocoris stollii Aquarius najas
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Pentatomidae Gerridae
Size 15-20 mm 14-17 mm
Habitat Farmland Rivers & Streams
Diet Sap Feeders Predators
Regions India, Southeast Asia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Jewel Bug

A dazzling metallic green and red shield bug from South and Southeast Asia. Its brilliant iridescence makes it one of the most beautiful hemipterans.

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Did You Know?

Its metallic coloration is structural rather than pigment-based, produced by nanostructures in the cuticle that reflect light.

Common Pond Skater

A large, elongate water strider that glides across the surface of flowing rivers and large ponds. It is one of the biggest European gerrid species with a dark brown body.

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Did You Know?

Pond skaters communicate with potential mates and rivals by generating specific ripple patterns on the water surface, essentially sending coded messages across the water.