Great diving beetle  (Dytiscus marginalis)

Loading loading

Facts – Great diving beetle

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderColeoptera
FamilyDytiscidae
GenusDytiscus (1)
SizeLength of larvae: up to 60 mm (3)
Length of adults: 27-35 mm (2)
Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Status – Great diving beetle

The great diving beetle is common (3).

Description – Great diving beetle

The great diving beetle (Dytiscus marginalis) is, as the name suggests, a large aquatic beetle (4). It is has a beautifully streamlined body shape and is dark brown to blackish in colour with yellow legs and a yellow border around both the head and the thorax. The wing cases, or 'elytra', are ridged in females but smooth in males. Males can also be distinguished from females by the presence of suction pads on the front legs; two of which are very large. The brownish larvae have large heads, which bear impressive, large jaws (3).

Range – Great diving beetle

Found in Europe and northern Asia and is common in Britain (3).

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Habitat – Great diving beetle

This water beetle is common in most aquatic habitats, in both still and running water (3), and frequently occurs in garden ponds. The great diving beetle is scarcer in chalk and limestone areas (1), and seems to prefer ponds with plenty of weeds (4).

Biology – Great diving beetle

Both adults and larvae of this beetle are voracious predators, taking a wide range of prey including fish. They actively search for prey, and periodically swim to the surface in order to take in air (3). Adults often fly at night, and may land on glass surfaces or roads, mistaking them for water (2). When threatened, they exude a foul-smelling fluid from the anus that deters potential predators from eating them (5).

Females lay their eggs in cavities, which they cut in the stems of water plants that protrude from the water. The eggs hatch after a number of weeks (5).

Threats – Great diving beetle

The great diving beetle is very common and is not threatened.

Conservation – Great diving beetle

Conservation action has not been targeted at this species.

There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Find out more – Great diving beetle

For further information on the great diving beetle:

Authentication

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

Glossary

  • Elytra: in beetles and earwigs, the hard fore wings. They are held aloft when the insect flies, and are often coloured or patterned.
  • Larvae: stage in an animal's lifecycle after it hatches from the egg. Larvae are typically very different in appearance to adults; they are able to feed and move around but usually are unable to reproduce.
  • Thorax: part of the body located near the head in animals. In insects, the three segments between the head and the abdomen, each of which has a pair of legs.

References

  1. National Biodiversity Network Species Dictionary (Jan 2003):
    http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nbn/
  2. Lyneborg, L. (1976) Beetles in colour. Blandford Press, Dorset.
  3. Harde, K. W. (2000) A field guide in colour to beetles. Silverdale Books, Leicester.
  4. Joy, N. (1933) British beetles; their homes and habits. Frederick Warne & Co., Ltd., London.
  5. Animal Diversity (March 2003):
    http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/dytiscus/d._marginalis$narrative.html
More

Related species

More

Related species by status

No related species found
More

Related species by group

Loading...
More

Related species by geography

More

Related species by habitat

What's new?

Lygodactylus mirabilis

New profile for the Critically Endangered reptile, Lygodactylus mirabilis. More

Latest from the ARKive blogsubscribe to posts

Loading...
ARKive.org is the place for films, photos and facts about endangered species. Subscribe to our blog today to keep up to date!

To see the latest posts from ARKive please visit http://blog.arkive.org or enable javascript.

Image credit

Great diving beetle portrait
Great diving beetle portrait

© Christophe Véchot / Biosphoto

Biosphoto
16 rue Velouterie
Avignon
84000
France
Tel: +33 (490) 162 042
Fax: +33 (663) 208 434
http://www.biosphoto.com/

Link to this photo

ARKive species - Great diving beetle (Dytiscus marginalis) Embed this ARKive thumbnail link by copying and pasting the code below.

Terms of Use - The displayed thumbnail may be used as a link from your website to ARKive's online content for not-for-profit private, scientific, conservation or educational purposes only. Portlets may NOT be used within Apps.

MyARKive

Great diving beetle portrait

MyARKive offers the scrapbook feature to signed-up members, allowing you to organize your favourite ARKive images and videos and share them with friends.