Malaysian Trilobite Beetle vs Australian Diving Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Malaysian Trilobite Beetle Australian Diving Beetle
Scientific Name Platerodrilus ruficollis Cybister godeffroyi
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Lycidae Dytiscidae
Size 40-80 mm females, 8-10 mm males 28-35 mm
Habitat Woodlands Ponds & Lakes
Diet Wood Feeders Omnivores
Regions Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, Indonesia) Australia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Malaysian Trilobite Beetle

A bizarre beetle whose larviform females retain a flat, segmented larval appearance throughout life, resembling ancient trilobites. Males are small, winged, and conventionally beetle-shaped.

💡

Did You Know?

The flat, armored female looks so unlike a typical beetle that it was originally described as a separate species from the male.

Australian Diving Beetle

A large olive-green diving beetle found in freshwater habitats across Australia. It is one of the most commonly encountered large water beetles on the continent.

💡

Did You Know?

During droughts it can fly long distances at night to find new water bodies.