Hydrophilus piceus · paprastasis degutvabalis «Hydrophilus piceus · paprastasis degutvabalis^Thumbnails«Hydrophilus piceus · paprastasis degutvabalis^Thumbnails«Hydrophilus piceus · paprastasis degutvabalis^Thumbnails

Hydrophilus piceus · paprastasis degutvabalis

  • Hydrous piceus
  • great silver water beetle
  • Große Kolbenwasserkäfer
  • paprastasis degutvabalis
  • lielais ūdensmīlis
  • kałużnica czarnozielona

This beetle is native to the western Palearctic realm, where it occurs throughout much of Eurasia, its distribution extending from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, North Africa, and Russia, and as far east as India and China. It is among the largest aquatic insects. Adults can reach up to 5 cm in length and 2 cm in width. The larvae is up to 7 cm long. The body of adults is black with a greenish or olive sheen. It has protruding eyes and reddish-black antennae.

The beetle is omnivorous but favors plant material. It can live for up to three years but most individuals die after breeding during their first year. The larvae feed on freshwater snails of the family Lymnaeidae, drilling holes into the shells to feed on the animals. The grubs can then reach 7 cm long before pupating in the mud. In the spring, the adult female spins a cocoon, fills it with eggs, and sets it afloat.

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