|
Beetles
****Beetles are the natural wonders
of insects in the pond. There are several types of beetles,such
as the Water
Beetle, A.K.A.Water
Scavenger,
the Backswimmer,
and of course, the Whirligig Beetle.
Water
Scavenger
****The water scavenger is a small
Western Hemisphere beetle that has earned its three nicknames--water
scavenger, water beetle, and great diving beetle. The water beetle
has wings that allow it to fly, and capture air in between them.
The great diving beetle has a tendency to dive into the ground
underwater to avoid predators. They usually come out of their
newly dug tunnel when it is safe.
Backswimmer
****The backswimmer is the only water
beetle smaller than an inch, and it bites. But why does it bite?
It's very simple, because it is the one beetle that is a favorite
delicacy of larger insects. So why does it bite humans? Consider
the backswimmer as a frightened baby dog. What will it do? Bite,
of course. All the backswimmers think your hand is a larger insect.
Whirligig
Beetle
****The whirligig beetle is a very
strange insect-it spins in circles. Why? The whirligig beetle
spins to detect prey on the surface. When a fly lands in ripples
of the whirligig beetle, the fly hits the ripples causing some
more ripples, but back to the whirligig beetle, giving it the
information of where the fly's impact was. The whirligig beetle
has two sets of eyes, instead of two. Why? That way, they can
see their prey if it's over (flies, land insects), or under the
water (water fleas, sunken flies, etc.) The whirligig beetle
also gives off a strong odor when caught. If you're wondering
why, it's kind of obvious, to have the predator release it so
it doesn't die.
|