Red Pumpkin Beetle vs Harris's Diving Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Red Pumpkin Beetle Harris's Diving Beetle
Scientific Name Aulacophora foveicollis Dytiscus harrisii
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Chrysomelidae Dytiscidae
Size 5-8 mm 33-40 mm
Habitat Farmland Ponds & Lakes
Diet Seed Feeders Omnivores
Regions South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Red Pumpkin Beetle

A uniformly bright orange-red beetle with fine punctures on the pronotum and smooth elytra. It is a highly destructive pest of cucurbits throughout tropical and subtropical Asia and Africa.

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Did You Know?

In India, this beetle is one of the top three most damaging pests of cucurbit vegetables, attacking over 80 species of cucurbits.

Harris's Diving Beetle

A large North American diving beetle found in cold, clear lakes and bog ponds. It is one of the largest diving beetles on the continent.

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Did You Know?

It can remain submerged for extended periods by trapping air under its elytra, which it uses like an external lung.