April 20th, 2006
predaceous diving beetle
As mentioned yesterday, I found an evening visitor wandering around in the lane beside our van. After shooting some photos, I brought the Predaceous Diving Beetle (Family Dytiscidae) indoors and kept it in a container for the night. This morning, I put it into the small aquarium that I use for photographing aquatic insects (see above and below — click on images to see larger versions). In addition to the photos, I also shot a short movie clip of the beetle swimming around in the aquarium.
As can be seen in the photos, the hind pair of legs are quite long and have brush-like filaments that help to make the legs function more like paddles or oars when the beetle is swimming. The hind legs are quite flexible and curl and bend upwards and downwards, and generally help to the insect maneuver in water. When at rest, the insect floats to the surface and holds its hind legs out directly to the sides like stabilizers. It’s really quite an active insect and can swim quite rapidly when not restrained in a small aquarium.
April 20th, 2006 at 11:09 am
Bev, this is a great couple of photoessays on diving beetles. What is your little photography “aquarium”? Floridacracker mentioned a triangular water enclosure for photographing fish, but I wonder if there’s something as good that’s more in the homemade way.
I spied a water beetle at the surface of our little creek one day last month, managing to keep up with the current and stay in place, apparently his favorite territorial area. Water is awfully difficult when trying to photograph things on the surface or below – I shouldn’t have tried to use the auto-focus. At any rate none of the closeups of the fellow turned out.
When we built small ponds, the first critters in were diving beetles. They just appeared, within a few days, as if by magic.
April 23rd, 2006 at 4:48 pm
Wayne – Thanks! My aquarium is also a triangular one — just small and made of very clear plastic. I take it along with me when I’m doing river survey work so that I can get shots of aquatics while in the field. And yes, you’re quite right — water puts a new twist on photography. I’ve considered getting an underwater casing for my CP4500, but they’re expensive. Alternatively, I’ve thought of just getting one of those little waterproof camera bags that sell for about $35. It would be fun to have something like that for shooting closeups of crayfish in situ, etc…
May 17th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
make a life cycle picture already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!