Not to be confused with Great Silver Beetle.
The great diving beetle may be small, but this is one ferocious predator. This insect hunts in small lakes and ponds, using oar-like legs to paddle through the water. The beetle carries an extra supply of oxygen along to stay underwater and hunt for extended periods. Even great diving beetle larvae are vicious hunters and dominate their habitats.
Moving Day: If a pond begins to run short on potential prey, the great diving beetle hauls itself out of the water. The insect opens and closes its wingcases a few times to ready its wings, then flies off to find a new home.
Hairy Legs: Long bristles on the diving beetle's hind legs spread out so the insect can use them like extra-wide oars, rowing with them to propel itself in the water; the beetle steers with it middle legs.
One Bad Beetle[]
When on the hunt, the great diving beetle slips below the surface of a pond, clings to an underwater plant and waits for a tempting morsel to swim by. When the insect's antennae detect the scent or vibration of anything from an insect to a small fish, the predator zips out in pursuit. The diving beetle grabs its victims with the small claws on its front legs and immediately begins to tear away their flesh with a set of razor sharp jaws.
Larvae Life: Great diving beetle larvae look like tiny, underwater dragons (above). These young insects have to hunt constantly to store energy for their transformation into adults; their appetites make them even more aggressive than grown-ups.
Air Supply: This beetle stores a small air bubble under its wingcases so it can stay underwater. The oxygen passes into the beetle's body through small pores in its back.
Fish Slurpee[]
- Seeing a small fish struggling in the water, a great diving beetle larva springs into action. The larva catches up with the fish and bites into it with sharp, hollow jaws, then injects digestive juices into the victim to turn its insides into mush.
- Hanging on to its catch, the larva floats upward. The beetle stays below the surface to slurp up its dinner; it also lifts its tail out of the water and takes in air so it can go right back on the hunt.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The heading “Fish Slurpee” is a nod to the slush 7-11 drink. Oddly, unlike the Jell-o mention on Dumbo Octopus knowledge card, the name drop here does not have a trademark, given the name seems to have been a trademark at the time of publishing.