Lesser Silver Water Beetle vs Broad-Shouldered Water Strider
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Lesser Silver Water Beetle | Broad-Shouldered Water Strider |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hydrochara flavipes | Microvelia americana |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Hydrophilidae | Veliidae |
| Size | 12-16 mm | 1.5-2.5 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Scavengers | Omnivores |
| Regions | East Asia | North America, Central America, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Lesser Silver Water Beetle
A medium-sized water scavenger beetle found in still waters across East Asia. Its legs have distinctive yellowish tarsi.
Did You Know?
It is commonly encountered in rice paddies where it helps break down organic matter in the flooded fields.
Broad-Shouldered Water Strider
A tiny water strider relative that walks on the surface of ponds and puddles. It is widespread across the Americas on still freshwater.
Did You Know?
At barely 2 mm long, it is so small that it can walk on water trapped in a single hoofprint.