Water-lily Reed Beetle vs Banded Aridaeus
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Water-lily Reed Beetle | Banded Aridaeus |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Donacia simplex | Aridaeus thoracicus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Chrysomelidae | Cerambycidae |
| Size | 7-9 mm | 15-25 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Forests |
| Diet | Herbivores | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, North America | Eastern Australia (Queensland, New South Wales) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Water-lily Reed Beetle
A metallic coppery-bronze aquatic beetle with longitudinal ridges on the elytra. Adults sit on floating leaves of pondweeds and bur-reeds in still or slow-flowing water.
Did You Know?
Larvae construct a silken cocoon underwater attached to plant roots, filling it with air obtained from the plant's tissues for pupation.
Banded Aridaeus
A medium-sized Australian cerambycid with a bright orange pronotum contrasting with dark brown elytra. It is found in eucalypt forests of eastern Australia. Larvae bore into dead and decaying eucalyptus branches.
Did You Know?
Several Aridaeus species in Australia are so similar they can only be reliably distinguished by examining male genitalia.