Trivia question for Apr-30-2011

Carter picked this bug reluctantly. He is not a big fan of insects but we impress upon the kids the need for a diverse knowledge base, so let’s see how he does. These are small but powerful aquatic predators capable of killing prey several times larger than itself.

These guys are known to land on glass roofs and on roads which they mistake as water in the dark. These insects eat small fish, tadpoles, other insects and carrion.

So here are Carter’s questions: Tell us what this insect is and how it is able to stay underwater for extended periods of time. Also, tell us what these guys do just before flying away.

Good Luck 😉

Answer:

Congratulations Evan from Ohio for being the first one with the correct answer. Evan knew that the bug we featured is the Great Diving Beetle.

The great diving beetle, 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.

They are able to stay underwater by using its wingcases to trap air which it uses to breathe while staying submerged. Before flying away, they always flap their wings several times to ensure they are able to achieve lift-off. Here is more on these hearty bugs: Great Diving Beetle

Thanks for playing along 😉