The Water Scavenger Beetle (Cercyon laminatus) is a very small insect in the Hydrophilidae family of freshwater beetles. It is an hydrophilid.
The Water Scavenger Beetle has a elongatd dark-coloured body, interrupted between the pronotum (head) and elytra (wing cases) – there is a space between the two body parts. It has irregular longitudinal grooves on its wing cases. It has club-shaped antennae.
It grows to about 3mm (less than half an inch) in length.
It is found in Europe, northern Asia, and North America. It is a semi-aquatic beetle, living in rain pools and ponds for part of the time. It is particularly active during rainy weather. It does not live permanently in water.
It can fly for short distances.
The larvae eat small invertebrates and the adults eat vegetation. Its predators include fish, birds, insects, and turtles.
The female lays egg cases in damp soil near a shallow pond or water source, where they hatch into larvae. The egg cases contain up to 20 eggs. The larvae pupate (by burrowing into soft sand) and the adult beetle emerges about 14 days later. It takes about 43 days from larval stage to adult stage. This is called metamorphosis.
Location of photographs: Paris, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM