Dytiscid Water Beetle

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gpmatthews
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Location: Horsham, W. Sussex, UK
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Dytiscid Water Beetle

Post by gpmatthews »

I keep on finding things too big for the microscope, so here is another of my rare, but getting more frequent, forays into macro... setup uses a simple add on lens to my Powershot S50.

This beetle is about 9 mm long and was caught today on a walk with my daughter to a local river. It is similar to the Great Diving Beetle, but much smaller. The first two shots show it coming up for air.

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Graham

Though we lean upon the same balustrade, the colours of the mountain are different.

Ken Ramos
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Post by Ken Ramos »

A very large and interesting looking beetle there Graham. So it breathes through the lower part of the abdomen. I didn't water beetles did so, what does it have a tube of sorts that it extends to the surface? Wonderful images Graham, thanks! :D

gpmatthews
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Joined: Thu Aug 03, 2006 10:54 am
Location: Horsham, W. Sussex, UK
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Post by gpmatthews »

Ken,

They carry a bubble of air trapped under their wing-cases. You can just see this in the last photo at the very tail of the beetle.
Graham

Though we lean upon the same balustrade, the colours of the mountain are different.

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