How does a diving beetle breath in its aquatic habitat?

“It has evolved at least 10 times across the insect tree of life.” Sponsored By. A predaceous diving beetle holds a bubble under his outer wings. (Josh Cassidy/KQED). So how do they do it? read more

It carries a bubble of air under its wing covers, returning to the surface for another bubble once it’s consumed all the oxygen in the current bubble. read more

The larva, like the adult, breathes through spiracles on its abdomen and hangs suspended from the water surface film. In some species filamentous abdominal appendages function as gills, and the larva does not have to surface in order to breathe. Diving beetle larvae pupate in moist ground. read more

The great diving beetle (Dytiscus marginalis) is a large aquatic diving beetle native to Europe and northern Asia, and is particularly common in England. The great diving beetle, true to its name, is a rather sizable insect. The larvae can grow up to 60 millimetres (2.4 in) in length, while the adults are generally 27–35 millimetres (1.1–1.4 in). read more