Predator Becoming Prey, Pt. 2 - _TNY_6764
Diving beetles (Dysticus sp.) are aquatic, but have wings and can fly to new places using them.
The larvae also lives underwater and is a pretty fierce predator, feeding on pretty much anything smaller than itself, including tadpoles and even small fish.
When it is time to pupate, they have to leave the water though and find a place to burow down in the ground.
This one had really bad timing as it ran into a couple of red wood ants (Formica rufa) which managed to overpower it and were dragging it back to the anthill when I discovered them.
Ants being ants means they aren't much about standing still so getting a clear shot wasn't the easiest.
Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52618471242/
Predator Becoming Prey, Pt. 2 - _TNY_6764
Diving beetles (Dysticus sp.) are aquatic, but have wings and can fly to new places using them.
The larvae also lives underwater and is a pretty fierce predator, feeding on pretty much anything smaller than itself, including tadpoles and even small fish.
When it is time to pupate, they have to leave the water though and find a place to burow down in the ground.
This one had really bad timing as it ran into a couple of red wood ants (Formica rufa) which managed to overpower it and were dragging it back to the anthill when I discovered them.
Ants being ants means they aren't much about standing still so getting a clear shot wasn't the easiest.
Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52618471242/