Red Rove Beetle vs Backswimmer
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Red Rove Beetle | Backswimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Platydracus maculosus | Notonecta glauca |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Staphylinidae | Notonectidae |
| Size | 15-22 mm | 14-16 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Eastern North America | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Red Rove Beetle
A large, brightly marked rove beetle with reddish elytra spotted with dark markings and a densely pubescent thorax. It is one of the most colorful North American staphylinids.
Did You Know?
This beetle can produce audible stridulatory sounds by rubbing specialized structures on its abdomen against the underside of the elytra.
Backswimmer
An aquatic bug that swims upside down just beneath the water surface, using its long hind legs as oars. Its back is keeled like a boat hull and pale-colored for camouflage when viewed from below.
Did You Know?
Backswimmers swim inverted with their pale backs facing downward, providing counter-shading camouflage against the bright sky when predators look up from below.