Whirligig Diving Beetle vs Xya Pygmy Mole Cricket

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Whirligig Diving Beetle Xya Pygmy Mole Cricket
Scientific Name Macrogyrus oblongus Xya pfaendleri
Order Coleoptera Orthoptera
Family Gyrinidae Tridactylidae
Size 12-18 mm 4-6 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Predators Herbivores
Regions Africa Southern Europe, Mediterranean
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Whirligig Diving Beetle

A large whirligig beetle that spins on the water surface of African rivers.

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Did You Know?

Its divided compound eyes allow it to see above and below water simultaneously.

Xya Pygmy Mole Cricket

A minute European pygmy mole cricket typically found on bare sandy ground near rivers. It is so small it is often confused with a small beetle.

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Did You Know?

It has tiny paddle-shaped appendages on its hind legs that serve as hydrofoils for skipping across water surfaces.