Diving beetles

Check out the action at a nearby pond where a master predator is on the hunt—a diving beetle! This skillful insect is after larvae, small fish, salamanders, and other prey. Key body parts make a diving beetle an effective hunter. When it spots a target, the beetle’s body traps an air bubble, which it uses to breathe underwater for up to 10 to 15 minutes! Its legs act like oars to move it quickly through the water. A smooth, waxy coat helps too. The diving beetle snatches its prey with its strong jaws. Bite by bite, the adult beetle devours its meal. In this exciting book, you can learn what makes diving beetles similar to and different from other insects. Close-up photographs and diagrams reveal extraordinary details about diving beetle bodies, both inside and out. And you can perform activities that help you find ways protect the diving beetles watery home, and understand how diving beetles breathe underwater. Learn more about this exiting member of nature’s fascinating Insect World!