INTERACTIONS
Because the predaceous diving beetle is a fierce carnivore, it can easily eat other aquatic animals that are bigger than the beetle itself. The beetle kills its prey using its two large pincers located towards the front of its body and it is able to inject digestive enzymes into its prey to help aid in killing it.
Some of the more common prey of the diving beetle includes...
- The Bullfrog
- Creek Chub
- Spring Peeper
- Eastern Newt
- Yellow Perch
- Bluegill
- Spotted Salamander
- Common Whitetail
- Aquatic Worm
- Northern Caddis Fly
Check out this
video to see just how vicious the predaceous diving beetle can be!
However strong the diving beetle may be, it is still no match for these predators...
Click on these links to look at other crazy carnivorous aquatic animals...Barracuda
, Stone Fish, Red Lionfish, or the Japanese Pufferfish- Largemouth Bass
- Channel Catfish
- Mallard
- Eastern painted Turtle
- Common Carp
- Northern Pike
- Yellow Bullhead
- American Eel
Do we, as humans, have to worry about diving beetles?
In general, these tough critters won't cause you too much harm if left alone. If you were to pick one up however, you might get bitten, and that would hurt! Other than that the only way most humans affect diving beetles is through the pollution of the marshes, streams, and pools that they reside in.
Beetles also have an impact on their ecosystems by feeding on plants and fungi, breaking down animal and plant debris, and eating other invertebrates.
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