science education resource

Whirligig Beetle

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Dineutus americanus
Whirligig Beetle

Range

There are about 700 different kinds found all over the world.

Habitat

They live on ponds and streams.

Body Traits

They look like black, shiny ovals swimming on the water. Their eyes are also divided into two parts so they can see both above and below the surface of the water.

Habits

They group together in large numbers and swim around in circles on top of the water. They are the only beetles that can swim on top of the water, using the surface tension of the water to help hold them up. They can also dive below the water's surface. They trap air bubbles under their belly to breathe so they can stay underwater longer.

Diet

They eat tiny insects that land on the water or find little bits of floating things (debris) to eat.

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

Females lay eggs under the surface of the water.

Whirligig Beetle

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class:     Insecta
Order:     Coleoptera
Family: Gyrinidae
Genus:     Dineutus
Species: D. americanus

Citing Research References

When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association).

When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >.

Here is an example of citing this page:

Amsel, Sheri. "Whirligig Beetle" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. March 25, 2024
< http://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/Whirligig-Beetle >

Exploringnature.org has more than 2,000 illustrated animals. Read about them, color them, label them, learn to draw them.