REPRODUCTION and LIFE STAGES
Being a member of the phyla animalia, the diving beetle reproduces
sexually. They use many intricate behaviors while mating and it is
believed pheromones play a large role in locating a mate. Pairing is
generally short (less than an hour), and in this time male sperm is
transferred to the female and her eggs are fertilized. The fertilized
egg is the first stage of 4 in a beetle's life cycle.
The female then ejects the eggs via a needle shaped organ the comes out
of the abdomen called the ovipositor. The eggs are usually injected one
at a time into an underwater plant's stem.
Once the eggs hatch they are in the larval stage. To see what the larval
form of this beetle looks like check out this
cool video...
Once the larva is fully grown it heads for lands where it hides under a
rock or leaves and transforms into the pupa form of its life cycle. It
will stay in this cocoon for several weeks. During this time it is
transforming into the diving beetle adult form that is easily
recognizable. Once its growth is completed it will break free from its
cocoon and head back to water immediately.
return to multipleorganisms.net
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to learn more about the diving beetles interactions with other
organisms