Figures 10.3


A male water beetle of Dytiscus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) replenishing its store of air at the water surface.
Figures 10.3. A male water beetle of Dytiscus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) replenishing its store of air at the water surface.

Below is a transverse section of the beetle’s abdomen showing the large air store below the elytra and the tracheae opening into this air space. Note: the tarsi of the fore legs are dilated to form adhesive pads that are used to hold the female during copulation. (Inset after Wigglesworth 1964)

Previous figure
  The life cycle of the mosquito Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae):
Next figure
  Dorsal (left) and ventral (right) views of the larva of Edwardsina polymorpha (Diptera: Blephariceridae); the venter has suckers which the larva uses to adhere to rock surfaces in fast-flowing water.