Screech Beetle vs Rain Beetle Hunter

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Screech Beetle Rain Beetle Hunter
Scientific Name Hygrobia hermanni Calosoma cancellatum
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Hygrobiidae Carabidae
Size 8-10 mm 18-25 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Grasslands
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Europe, North Africa North America, from Canada to Mexico
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Screech Beetle

A medium-sized, reddish-brown water beetle that produces an audible squeaking sound when handled. It is found in muddy ponds across Europe.

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Did You Know?

It produces a squeaking noise by rubbing its abdomen against the inside of its wing cases.

Rain Beetle Hunter

A medium to large caterpillar hunter with dark elytra marked by rows of rectangular pits giving a grid-like appearance. It is one of the most common Calosoma species across North American prairies.

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Did You Know?

It emerges in massive numbers after rain events on the Great Plains, earning the nickname rain beetle, and can be found running across roads in huge aggregations.