A water beetle is a generalized name for any beetle that is adapted to living in water at any point in its life cycle. Most water beetles can only live in fresh water, with a few marine species that live in the intertidal zone or littoral zone. There are approximately 2000 species of true water beetles native to lands throughout the world.[1]
Water Beetles (Dytiscidae). a, Beetle (Cybister sp.); b, head of beetle with feelers and gunts (Agabus); c, larva (Larva of Dytiscus, Water Beetle); d, pupa (Pupa of Dytiscus).
Many water beetles carry an air bubble, called the elytra cavity, underneath their abdomens, which provides an air supply, and prevents water from getting into the spiracles.[2] Others have the surface of their exoskeleton modified to form a plastron, or "physical gill", which permits direct gas exchange with the water. Some families of water beetles have fringed hind legs adapted for swimming, but most do not. Most families of water beetles have larvae that are also aquatic; many have aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults.[3][4]
Water beetles can be either herbivores, predators, or scavengers. Herbivorous beetles eat only aquatic vegetation, such as algae or leaves. They might also suck juices out the stem of a plant nearby. Scavenger beetles will feed on decomposing organic material that has been deposited. The scavenged material can come from aquatic vegetation, feces, or other small organisms that have died.[5] The great diving beetle, a predator, feeds on things like worms, tadpoles, and even sometimes small fish.[6]
Speciesedit
Families in which all species are aquatic in all life stages include:
^Peckarsky, Barbara Lynn (1990). Freshwater macroinvertebrates of northeastern North America. the University of Michigan: Comstock Pub. Associates. ISBN0801420768.
^McCafferty, W. Patrick (1983). Aquatic Entomology: The Fishermen's and Ecologists' Illustrated Guide to Insects and Their Relatives. Jones & Bartlett Learning. ISBN9780867200171.
^"Great Diving Beetle | The Wildlife Trusts". www.wildlifetrusts.org.
Epler, J. H. 1996. Identification manual for the water beetles of Florida (Coleoptera: Dryopidae, Dytiscidae, Elmidae, Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, Hydraenidae, Hydrophilidae, Noteridae, Psephenidae, Ptilodactylidae, Scirtidae). (PDF, 9.0 MB)
February 15, 2024
water, beetle, water, beetle, generalized, name, beetle, that, adapted, living, water, point, life, cycle, most, water, beetles, only, live, fresh, water, with, marine, species, that, live, intertidal, zone, littoral, zone, there, approximately, 2000, species,. A water beetle is a generalized name for any beetle that is adapted to living in water at any point in its life cycle Most water beetles can only live in fresh water with a few marine species that live in the intertidal zone or littoral zone There are approximately 2000 species of true water beetles native to lands throughout the world 1 Water Beetles Dytiscidae a Beetle Cybister sp b head of beetle with feelers and gunts Agabus c larva Larva of Dytiscus Water Beetle d pupa Pupa of Dytiscus Many water beetles carry an air bubble called the elytra cavity underneath their abdomens which provides an air supply and prevents water from getting into the spiracles 2 Others have the surface of their exoskeleton modified to form a plastron or physical gill which permits direct gas exchange with the water Some families of water beetles have fringed hind legs adapted for swimming but most do not Most families of water beetles have larvae that are also aquatic many have aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults 3 4 Contents 1 Diet 2 Species 3 See also 4 ReferencesDiet editWater beetles can be either herbivores predators or scavengers Herbivorous beetles eat only aquatic vegetation such as algae or leaves They might also suck juices out the stem of a plant nearby Scavenger beetles will feed on decomposing organic material that has been deposited The scavenged material can come from aquatic vegetation feces or other small organisms that have died 5 The great diving beetle a predator feeds on things like worms tadpoles and even sometimes small fish 6 Species editFamilies in which all species are aquatic in all life stages include Dytiscidae Gyrinidae Whirligig beetles Haliplidae Noteridae Amphizoidae Hygrobiidae Squeak beetles Meruidae Hydroscaphidae Skiff beetles Families in which the adults are not necessarily aquatic include Hydrophilidae Lutrochidae Travertine beetles Dryopidae Elmidae Eulichadidae Heteroceridae Limnichidae Psephenidae Water penny beetles Ptilodactylidae Torridincolidae SphaeriusidaeSee also editAquatic insectsReferences edit Water Beetle pictures information classification and more www everythingabout net Water Beetle Facts Information amp Pictures Peckarsky Barbara Lynn 1990 Freshwater macroinvertebrates of northeastern North America the University of Michigan Comstock Pub Associates ISBN 0801420768 McCafferty W Patrick 1983 Aquatic Entomology The Fishermen s and Ecologists Illustrated Guide to Insects and Their Relatives Jones amp Bartlett Learning ISBN 9780867200171 404 EcoSpark www ecospark ca a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Cite uses generic title help Great Diving Beetle The Wildlife Trusts www wildlifetrusts org Epler J H 1996 Identification manual for the water beetles of Florida Coleoptera Dryopidae Dytiscidae Elmidae Gyrinidae Haliplidae Hydraenidae Hydrophilidae Noteridae Psephenidae Ptilodactylidae Scirtidae PDF 9 0 MB Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Water beetle amp oldid 1008674980, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
