Vertichka float - swimming champion among beetles

The family of twirls (Gyrinidae) is adjacent to freshwater bodies with swimmers and stripes. Small beetles with black shiny backs move in water in circles and spirals. They are quick and agile, in case of danger, dive under water. The family has more than 800 species, 20 of them live in Russia. Vertichka float is the best swimmer in a pond or lake among water bugs. In addition to dexterity, nature gave her a convex body with fatty grease, which reduces the friction of water.

Morphological description of the species

Vertichka float (Gyrinus natator) refers to the order of beetles, a family of twirls. The body is oval, length 4.8-6 mm. The upper part is convex, the highest point is almost in the middle. The head is wide, pulled up to the eyes in the prothorax, the joint is dense. Antennae short, 11-segmented with compact mace. The most prominent part is the organs of vision. The beetle has two pairs of eyes, divided by functional purpose. On the forehead are complex faceted eyes that follow what is happening on land and in the air. The second pair is located at the bottom of the head and examines the underwater environment.

Interesting fact. There is a special organ on the antennae of the water beetle that catches water vibrations as a radar. Twirls create waves and catch their reflection from various objects.

Coloring is black and blue, shiny, the elytral rim with a bronze hue. The surface of the transverse pronotum is smooth. Elytra cover longitudinal rows of small dots. The apex of the abdomen remains open. The middle and hind pair of limbs are shortened and resemble fins. Swimming legs are flattened, extended, have additional rowing hairs. The legs are triangular. The forelimbs are long, adapted for movement on land, grabbing and holding prey. Paws consist of 5 segments. The limbs are bright orange.

Information. The male twirls on the front legs have thick bristles and suction cups to hold the female during mating.

Habitat

The little twister float lives in most of Europe, except in the southern regions. In the north, the border of its distribution reaches Norway and Finland. It is rare in Western Europe. Insects live in the European regions of Russia, Siberia.

Lifestyle

Insects settle in fresh water bodies with stagnant water, less often in rivers with a slow course. Favorite places - ponds, lakes, swamps, large puddles. They are superficial predators, catch small insects and invertebrates, which they can overcome. The diet includes live prey and dead. Digestion of beetles is external; they inject enzymes into the victim's body and wait for its dissolution. Adult individuals and their offspring act the same.

Atmospheric breathing; before diving, beetles trap a bubble of air with the end of the abdomen. On a warm sunny day, they circle from morning to evening on the surface of the water. In bad weather, in the evening they hide on the shore. The little float flies well, in the event of a drying up of the pond or worsening living conditions, it goes in search of a new refuge. In late summer, large groups of twirls circle on the surface of water bodies. This is the period when young beetles left the cocoons of pupae.

Information. Vertichka float a useful insect, it destroys mosquitoes and their larvae.

Protective gear

Small insects always have many enemies. Fish and aquatic animals hunt for twirls. To protect against predators helps a special fluid released from the anus. Caustic discharge scares the attacker away.

Breeding

With the onset of spring heat in aquatic insects, the mating period begins. The female lays eggs in rows, placing them on aquatic plants. After a few weeks, larvae appear. They have a thin, long body. On each of the 10 segments of the abdomen there are tracheal gills in the form of appendages. In contrast to the offspring of other water beetles, the larvae of the helicopter adapted to water respiration. They live in a skinny water, without having to rise to the surface. Rectangular head, 6 simple ocelli, crescent mandibles and 4-segmented antennae. There are 3 pairs of limbs on the chest.

Pupation takes place on land. Older larvae get ashore and set up a camera in the ground. Inside they turn into a cocoon. By August, a young beetle matures in it. Leaving his birthplace, he heads to the nearest pond. Adults winter in deep ponds.

Content

Despite the small size of the twirls is not recommended to be kept in the aquarium. Beetles need a 2-m circle zone. Wide and flat containers are suitable for them. A group of twirls of floats can be launched into the pond on the site and observe their moving movement on the surface of the reservoir.