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Large black beetle (Predaceous diving beetle)

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Predaceous diving beetle
by: Moni

Shane
The photo is of a Predaceous diving beetle. It has a hard shell, hence is a beetle. The beetle in the photo is about 1 inch long with distinct antenna. The giant water bugs can be 2-3 inches long, have a softer body with a distinct triangle on the back behind the head and antenna are usually not seen.

The fore legs are small not pronounced like the Giant water bug. Giant water bugs are true bugs in the order Hemiptera, not beetles, Coleoptera, like the one in the photo.
Here are other photos of diving beetles - http://bugguide.net/node/view/195/bgimage

Here is a photo of the giant water bug (Belostomatid)- http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com/brown-insects.html

Thanks for cking, but this is a predaceous diving beetle.
Giant Water Bug
by: Shane

It is a Giant Water Bug (or Belostomatidae), just search it on Wikipedia. I saw the same one at The Oshawa Airport, just east of Toronto. It's March 21st, and has been quite warm the past few days. (26C today).
Predaceous diving beetle
by: Jennifer

I also found one in Wichita Kansas. It flew into me in the middle of the day and Im glad I could find out what it is. Thanks
Maine
by: Christopher LaMotte

Happy Easter,
We just came home on this very warm day in the beginning of april and I found this large beetle in are drive way. We live near the coast, but not near a lake or pond. Very strange



Predaceous diving beetle
by: Moni

Grace Cork
What you found is probably a similar beetle...there are several in this family, Dytiscidae. The hind legs do look more like flipperlike appendages than legs, so they can swim in the water.
These nearly one inch beetles overwinter in large bodies of water as adults. They can come to lights at night.
They do eat other insects and small fish in your lake.
If you look at this web site it shows the hing leg.
See if it looks similar to yours?
http://bugguide.net/node/view/17934
Giant beetle
by: Grace Cork

I recently found something similar at my property north lof Lindsay. It was a large oval shaped beetle, but instead of legs, appeared to have very narrow flipper like appendages????
I live by a lake-does this help
Thanks for the Information
by: Neil

It's great to know who he is (or was perhaps). I have a large pond in my backyard and back onto conservation area so we do get a lot of very unique creatures. I like to leave them be for the most part.

Thanks so much Moni and Donalda
Diving beetle
by: Moni

Neil
Looks like you have a predacious diving beetle, genus Dytiscus.
The adults will fly to lights at night so that is probably why you found it on your deck. The larvae are sometimes called water tigers. Both the larvae and adults are predaceous and feed on other aquatic arthropods and small aquatic animals including fish.
Nice photo.
Giant water beetle
by: Donalda

I believe this beetle is a giant water beetle.These beetles are ambush hunters,and are one of the largest,(if not the largest) insects in Canada.They like slowly moving water where they can grab hold of a plant and lay wait for prey such as tadpoles minnows,salamanders etc. which they grab with their strong front legs.They pierce their prey and inject a secretion that disolves the body tissues which enables them to suck out the fluids.Giant water bugs are active all year,and are often seen around street and patio lights in late summer.At this time of year they leave the shallow ponds and look for deeper water where they can remain active under the ice.This beetle will give a nasty bite if handled.

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