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Diving Beetle
(John Obermeyer, Purdue University)

Common Name: Diving Beetle

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Dytiscidae

Pest Status: Diving beetles are effective aquatic predators and are an important part of the food web.

Appearance: Diving beetles are dark green, brown, or black; smooth; and oval. They have a very hard shell. They vary in size depending upon the species but usually range between 1/4 and 1 1/2-inches. They have flattened, hairy hind legs adapted for swimming.

Life Cycle: Both adult and immature stages are aquatic insects and both are highly predacious. They mostly feed on other invertebrates, but sometimes on tiny fish.

Where to Collect: Diving beetles are common in brackish waters and slow-flowing streams and rivers. They can best be collected with water nets or in screens.