How Do Carnivorous Diving Beetles Manage To Live In Water.

Most beetles are land living insects but there are exceptions to every rule. The carnivorous diving beetle dislikes dry land intensely. If they find themselves on it, they move very clumsily and drag themselves about with no grace at all.

They are much more at home under the water where they swim gracefully, propelling themselves along with rhythmic movements of their small but powerful back legs. The edges of their legs have hairy fringes that increase the surface area, giving them more 'push' against the water. Many species use their back legs for propulsion, their middle legs for steering and extra speed and keep their front legs free to catch any prey they come across.

Carnivorous diving beetles do not have gills and so cannot breathe under the water. Instead they go back often to the surface for air and store some under their wing cases to be able to stay under for longer.

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