Wondering what this is?
Location: Bemidji, MN (Northern MN)
January 27, 2012 6:34 am
Hello,
My little 4 year old and I were trying to Google and identify this tonight. We were unsuccessfull so I’m writing to you for help. We took these pictures on 4/25/2011 at 10pm. It was outside our side door of the garage. We lived in the woods, thick with almost 40 year old red pines (planted as a tree farm, and then a couple homes were built within). Within a quarter mile is a small stream and wet land area. Hope this helps.
Signature: Thank you! Krissy H.
Predaceous Diving Beetle
Dear Krissy,
This is a Predaceous Diving Beetle, and as its name indicates, it is an aquatic insect, however, it is also capable of flight if its pond dries out, runs out of food, or it seeks a mate. It is in the family Dytiscidae (See BugGuide) and we cannot provide you with an exact species name, but perhaps Markikavana will write in with an identification. The predatory larvae of Predaceous Diving Beetles are sometimes called Water Tigers.
Daniel,
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it! I think I made a donation to your site the day you sent me this email, now I can’t find a receipt. Can you tell if I indeed made the donation, sometimes I sit down to do something and can finish it due to my 4 year old–he doesn’t like it when I’m on the phone or computer.
Thanks again!
Krissy Hughes
Thanks for your kind intentions Krissy. We will copy our webmaster who keeps track of website finances to see if he can verify the donation.
1
large beetle
Location: southern Alberta Canada
September 9, 2011 10:11 pm
Hi Bugman
I live in southern Alberta on the Praires, it is Sept 9, 2011, opened up the truck door and this large dark green beetle was crawling across the floor.
Signature: Puzzled on the Praires
Predaceous Diving Beetle
Dear Puzzled on the Praires,
This beautiful beetle is a Predaceous Diving Beetle in the family Dytiscidae, but we are not certain of the species as many member is the family look similar, as you can see if you browse through the images on BugGuide.
Thank you very much for identifying this beetle.
This year we have a large slough on the south side of our acreage, the Diving beetle probably came from there. I put it in my garden, guess I should have put it in the water. I was surprised when I found it in my truck, it must have flew in there.
Again thank you, your bug web site is wonderful, we have lots, I mean hundreds, of dragonflies in the garden and I have looked up several of them on your site.
Keep up the good work. Cheers
1
¶ Posted 10 September 2011 § ‡ ° amphibious insect
Location: PEI
July 23, 2011 2:08 pm
We found this bug in a puddle, in the country, on Prince Edward Island,Canada.
Signature: Josh
weird bug came out of a puddle.
Location: Prince Edward Island, Canada
July 24, 2011 9:53 am
We were walking in the back fields the other day and this thing came scurrying out of a puddle. We slowed him down long enough to snap a pic. No one around here has ever seen one.
Signature: Josh
Water Tiger
Hi Josh,
Thanks for resending your identification request. We had actually opened your email yesterday and we had plans to post your request, but somehow time got away from us and we forgot about it. This is a Water Tiger, the larva of a Predaceous Diving Beetle in the genus Dytiscus. You can see numerous examples on bugGuide. Water Tigers are fierce hunters and they are capable of catching and feeding upon tadpoles and small fish.
Hi, thanks for the reply, and information. I apologize for sending it twice, i sent it from a new mobile phone and thought the first one did not go through. It’s amazing how many interesting creatures there are.
Thank you very much for your time,
Josh
2
What is this
Location: New Romney Kent
May 27, 2011 3:20 pm
Hi,
I found this in the doorway of my car and I would love to know what it is.
Signature: Greg Hall
Diving Beetle
Hi Greg,
We believe this is a Predaceous Diving Beetle in the Family Dytiscidae and furthermore, we are fully confident that mardikavana will be providing us with confirmation and perhaps even a species identification.
Strange black beetle
Location: City, Worcester,Ma.
May 25, 2011 11:50 pm
Hello… I found a smooth shelled black beetle about 2 to 2 1/2 inches long. I have never seen a beetle like this one…it looks to me to be maybe a water beetle of sorts. I have been studing insects most of my life and I use your site very often to help me idendify strange insects. I live in central massachussets and I was at work during the night shift when spotted this little fellow crossing some concrete roadway in our plant. It would be wonderfull if you could tell me what this guy is.. I left him alone after I snapped these pic with my phone. Thank you,Dennis Lynde
Signature: Dennis Lynde
Predaceous Diving Beetle
Dear Dennis,
This is a Predaceous Diving Beetle in the family Dytiscidae (see BugGuide). It is most likely in the genus Dytiscus.
¶ Posted 26 May 2011 § ‡ ° Swimming insect? in Pak Chong, Thailand
Location: Pak Chong, Thailand
October 25, 2010 10:20 am
Hi. This thing is swimming in our pond in Pak Chong, Thailand, a mountain/jungle region in North Eastern Thailand. It’s several centimeters long, and seems to have 6 legs that it uses to swim. Hangs out both under water and on the surface. Not sure if it’s some type of dragonfly nymph? Any ideas? Thanks.
Signature: macnmotion
Water Scavenger Beetle Larva
Dear macnmotion,
This is the larva of a Diving Beetle, most probably a Predaceous Diving Beetle. They are sometimes called Water Tigers.
Thank you for the very quick reply. So the ones in our pond look much younger and less developed than some of the photos I’m seeing. I guess I can expect changes to be upcoming.
Will this larva begin to eat the small fish in the pond (1 cm)? So far these things hang out near the light at night and have made no move to attack any fish as far as I have seen.
Thanks. Andy
Hi again Andy,
Water Tigers will eat small fish.
Predaceous Diving Beetles
July 9, 2010
I have been keeping 3 predaceous diving beetles in a large fish bowl for several months. This morning we discovered several clusters of eggs all over the stems of the aquatic plants in the water. I’m interested in raising the young, but I’m concerned that I might not be able to provide enough food to keep them alive. I’ve been trying to research food sources online, and have found nothing except maybe mosquito larvae that would work for the new beetle hatchlings. Any ideas?
Mike
Shreveport, Louisiana
Predaceous Diving Beetles
Hi Mike,
Your insect-aquarium sounds so wonderful. Do you have a lid on the bowl? Predaceous Diving Beetles can fly quite well, but the larvae are totally aquatic and are known as Water Tigers. When they hatch, the young Water Tigers will most likely prey upon one another, eliminating the smallest and weakest. As they grow, you can probably feed them live tubifex worms or red worms which are also sold at most aquarium stores. Since they cannot fly, the larvae can also be placed in a larger container outside and they will be able to feed upon any mosquito larvae that develop in the tank. Newly born guppies will serve as a nice food supply as they begin to grow. Luckily, they will not need to eat daily. Good luck with this awesome opportunity.
Unknown flying beetle?
May 20, 2010
Hello everyone,
Great pictures and information here.
We found this bug on the deck in the morning, possibly drawn to the night light. It has some trauma from the birds pecking at it. It is quite large about 2cm wide and 4cm long. It has large wings almost 3cm long and back legs. I hope someone can help us identify this bug.
Sue and John
Southern Ontario Canada
Predaceous Diving Beetle
Dear Sue and John,
This is a Predaceous Diving Beetle in the genus Dysticus. Though they are aquatic, they can also fly and are attracted to lights. BugGuide has wonderful information on the genus.
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