Little Black Beetle
Jan 28, 2020 18:07:21 #
This is my preserved little black beetle that I found while scouting in the woods looking under deadfall to see what surprises awaited me that I staged for a focus stacking session. I thought that it might be a type of roach however the antenna does not look "roach like" and it has a hard shell cover over its wings.
If anyone knows what this little critter is, please let me know.
As always, thanks in advance to all who view and for your comments, suggestions, questions and critique.
If anyone knows what this little critter is, please let me know.
As always, thanks in advance to all who view and for your comments, suggestions, questions and critique.
Jan 28, 2020 19:03:34 #
Whirligig! Those are the shiny beetles that skim quickly on the surface of water, often in large groups. Now you have something interesting. Look at the head sideways. The compound eyes are split, so there are a pair of dorsal eyes to look up, and a pair of ventral eyes to look down. Very special, really.
The long front legs are 'raptorial', meaning they use those to grab prey. Their hind legs are also interesting. You will have fun with this. 👍
The long front legs are 'raptorial', meaning they use those to grab prey. Their hind legs are also interesting. You will have fun with this. 👍
Jan 28, 2020 20:16:44 #
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
Whirligig! Those are the shiny beetles that skim quickly on the surface of water, often in large groups. Now you have something interesting. Look at the head sideways. The compound eyes are split, so there are a pair of dorsal eyes to look up, and a pair of ventral eyes to look down. Very special, really.
The long front legs are 'raptorial', meaning they use those to grab prey. Their hind legs are also interesting. You will have fun with this. 👍
The long front legs are 'raptorial', meaning they use those to grab prey. Their hind legs are also interesting. You will have fun with this. 👍
Mark, thanks and I looked and it does have what appear to be "four eyes" with two of them looking upward and the other two which would look downward. I can see where it is actually just one eye though.
Mother Nature never ceases to amaze me.
Jan 28, 2020 22:13:34 #
sippyjug104 wrote:
Mark, thanks and I looked and it does have what appear to be "four eyes" with two of them looking upward and the other two which would look downward. I can see where it is actually just one eye though.
Mother Nature never ceases to amaze me.
Mother Nature never ceases to amaze me.
Great detail Sippy. I took a few shots of these whirligig's
at a local pond, they create a really cool wake. Is it ok if
I post them on this thread.
Jan 28, 2020 22:24:10 #
howlynn wrote:
Great detail Sippy. I took a few shots of these whirligig's
at a local pond, they create a really cool wake. Is it ok if
I post them on this thread.
at a local pond, they create a really cool wake. Is it ok if
I post them on this thread.
The more the better..!
Jan 28, 2020 22:33:46 #
sippyjug104 wrote:
The more the better..!
I took these for identification. A double wake.
Jan 28, 2020 22:47:14 #
howlynn wrote:
I took these for identification. A double wake.
Very neat and thanks for sharing..! They look like little motor boats going about. It's amazing to see how such a small insect can make such a large wake.
Jan 29, 2020 07:59:53 #
sippyjug104 wrote:
This is my preserved little black beetle that I fo... (show quote)
Family Gyrinidae. Possibly Dineutus americana.
Usually found in groups on the water surface spinning like a whirligig. Whirligig beetles also being the commonly given name.
If you throw leaf litter, mud or soil on the water surface you will attract them. They eat small insects and detritus that falls in the water or the same moving underwater. Thus the need for the divided eye, see above and below surface.
Apple bugs is another common name. They exude a milky white 'oil' that smells like a freshly bitten apple when handled.
They hibernate, so that must have been the case with this one.
Bill
Jan 29, 2020 10:17:14 #
Jan 29, 2020 10:31:15 #
This is yet another reminder that I have been sorely neglecting the aquatic insects. I need to get out there and get wet!
Jan 31, 2020 20:52:47 #
howlynn wrote:
I took these for identification. A double wake.
Just idling, they can realy put on speed.
Now, those two waves, bow and stern, have different properties.
The monster ships plying our waters create the same two types of waves, but thousands of times more in effect and duration.
Shoreline erosion?
Bill
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