How Do Whirligig Larvae Develop Into Adult Beetles?

When the whirligig larvae are ready for the next stage of their life cycle, they haul themselves out of the water and up the bank of the water in which they live and wrap themselves into a cocoon. Some species of whirligig beetle manage to all pupate on the same day, so there is a mass exodus of larvae within a few hours.

Once on land, the larvae collect grains of sand and sediment and fragments of vegetation and anything like shells, wood or seeds. They mould this material into a large ball and manage to support it on their backs as they stagger about looking for a suitable place to pupate.

Once they have found a spot, they unload their packet of building materials and set about building a small shelter. They get into it as quickly as they can to avoid drying out and then undergo the metamorphosis into an adult whirligig beetle.

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