Diving Beetle
Diving Beetle Introduction
The Diving Beetle is an aquatic animal belonging to the class Insecta. Diving beetles are native to Europe and northern Asia but is particularly common in England. The Diving Beetle is within the order Coleoptera. The larva of this beetle can grow up to 60 millimeters(2.4in), while the adults are generally 27-35 millimeters (1.1-1.4in).
These beetles live in freshwater, either still or slow-running, and seem to prefer water with vegetation. They are dark-colored (brown to black) on their back and wing cases (elytra) and yellow on their abdomen and legs. A voracious predator, this beetle hunts a wide variety of prey including small fish, other water insects and tadpoles.
Keywords to learn
Pupate = (of larva) become a pupa (a pupa is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation between immature and mature stages)
About Me
Hey Kids, my name is Dave the Diving Beetle and I am very happy to meet you. Learn more about me and my species @ www.kids.nationalgeographic.com
Key Data
-
Order:Coleoptera.
-
Lifespan:2-3 years (as adults).
-
Class:Insecta.
-
Scientific Name:Dytiscus Marginalis.
-
Mass:Not Known.
-
Length:Larva. 60 millimeters(2.4in), adult. 27-35 millimeters (1.1-1.4in)
Region found: Europe and northern Asia. -
Population Status:Least concern.
-
Current population trend:Unknown.
-
Diet:Carnivorous.Sexual maturity:Unknown.
The Diving Beetle is a multi-colored insect with many different types of species. The Diving Beetle is a wonderful looking but also scary looking creature that resides mostly in water. Now that you know more about the Diving Beetle by learning the key data above, be sure also to check out the fun facts on the Diving Beetle below. When you are finished learning the facts, try answering the questions in the Q&A corner on the bottom right side of the page.
Download questions about the Diving Beetle here: Diving Beetle (answers are on this page)
Diving Beetle Fun Facts for Kids
- # 1. Diving beetles have a pair of wings and often fly at night in search of new ponds.
- # 2. Diving Beetles cannot breathe underwater and must come up for air. They store air under their wing covers.
- # 3. To protect their eggs from predators, female Diving Beetles make small slits in plant stems and lay their eggs inside.
- # 4. The female Diving Beetle is much bigger than the male.
- # 5. The larva of the Diving Beetle float on the surface of the pond and move to the shore to pupate.
Q&A Corner
# 1. How bog can a larva of a Diving Beetle get?
# 2. What order is the Diving Beetle in?
# 3. Where do Diving Beetles often fly at night?
# 4. How do Diving Beetles breathe under water?
# 5. What do female Diving Beetles do to protect their eggs from predators?
Comments
One Reply to “Diving Beetle”
Leave a Reply
Nice article. Good facts.