Western Water Penny vs Arctic Ground Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Western Water Penny | Arctic Ground Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Psephenus falli | Amara alpina |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Psephenidae | Carabidae |
| Size | 4-5 mm (adults) | 5-8 mm |
| Habitat | Mountains | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Omnivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Western North America | Arctic Scandinavia, northern Russia, Siberia, Arctic Canada, Greenland |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Western Water Penny
A water penny beetle restricted to clean mountain streams in western North America. Its disc-shaped larvae are indicators of high water quality.
Did You Know?
The presence of water penny larvae is used by biologists as a reliable indicator that a stream is unpolluted.
Arctic Ground Beetle
A small, dark bronze ground beetle found on Arctic and alpine tundra. It has a broad, flattened body ideal for sheltering under stones. Adults are active during the brief Arctic summer and are partially herbivorous.
Did You Know?
This beetle has been found in Quaternary fossil deposits across northern Europe, showing it has inhabited the tundra since the last Ice Age.