Burrowing water beetles are very common in the ponds at Brazos Bend State Park. They are very small, only about 4 or 5 mm long. The most common kind has a red head and thorax and black wing covers over the abdomen. They look vey similar to small predaceous diving beetle, except that they do not have a visible scutellum. They are good swimmers. Their hind legs have hairs on them to make them better paddles for swimming.

Burrowing Water Beetle 4 mm long.

Burrowing Water Beetle Larva 3.7 mm long

Burrowing Water Beetle Larvae are nearly microscopic. They resemble short fat slugs with short legs, large eyes and short antennae. Sometimes, they have the same red and black coloration as adults. They usually burrow into the mud at the bottom of the pond.

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Predaceous Diving Beetles

Coleoptera

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