Diving Beetle

If you happen to spot a flat oval beetle in the water, it could be an adult diving beetle! The diving beetle (Dytiscidae) can be found in freshwater or on vegetation in the water as both an adult or a larvae. Larvae tend to feed on mosquito larvae, and adult diving beetles hunt other aquatic animals including tadpoles. While larvae catch their prey with a hook-like jaw and inject digestive fluid to liquify the contents of their prey, adults hunt by diving underwater and capturing their prey. To breathe underwater while looking for lunch, this insect stores a supply of air underneath its wings.