Painted Skimmer vs Bordered Great Diving Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Painted Skimmer Bordered Great Diving Beetle
Scientific Name Libellula semifasciata Dytiscus circumflexus
Order Odonata Coleoptera
Family Libellulidae Dytiscidae
Size 40-47 mm 28-34 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Ponds & Lakes
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions North America Europe
Conservation Least Concern Near Threatened

Painted Skimmer

An attractive dragonfly with amber-tinted wings marked by brown bands and spots. It is an early-season flier in eastern North America.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the earliest dragonflies to emerge in spring across the eastern United States.

Bordered Great Diving Beetle

A large British diving beetle similar to D. marginalis but with expanded yellow margins. It prefers larger, more permanent water bodies.

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Did You Know?

Females have deeply grooved elytra while males have smooth ones, making the sexes easy to distinguish.