Water Beetles

Water Beetles are predators and feed on other aquatic insects, tadpoles, and small fish.

Noongar Names: Not known

Scientific Name: family Dytiscidae

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Threats: Habitat loss

Will they visit?: Water beetles will visit home gardens with ponds and pools

Natural Distribution: Common and widespread throughout the South West and Perth region

: Dytiscidae – (CC)geoffbyrne. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia License (Atlas of Living Australia)

: Dytiscidae – (CC)Loxley Fedec. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia License (Atlas of Living Australia)

: Dytiscidae – (CC)wendy_moore. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia License (Atlas of Living Australia)

Habitat at a Glance

See Habitat Guide for more detail

Shelter: Hidden in submerged plants, rocks, and logs

Diet: Aquatic invertebrates, tadpoles, small fish

Water: Large frog ponds

ReWild Benefit: Pest control

Habitat Guide - Shelter

Natural Shelter

There are many species of water beetle found in Perth and vary in size, colour, and habitat. Water beetles live under water and breath the air stored beneath their wing cases. Their young (called larvae) are completely aquatic, requiring submerged plants within a pond to provide protection from potential predators.

Water beetles can arrive into a new pond out of nowhere! At night, water beetles fly between water bodies and ponds. If you don’t have room for a pond, a dampland can provide a refuge for travelling water beetles.

Novel Shelter

Not required.

Habitat Guide - Food and Water

Providing natural sources of food

Adult water beetles and their larvae feed on other insects, tadpoles, and even small fish. A well vegetated pond with plenty of rocks, logs, submerged plants, and fringing vegetation can provide foraging habitats.

Best to not disturb a water beetle as they can inflict a harmless, yet painful, bite.

Providing sources of water

Water beetles often breed in garden ponds. Larger, well vegetated ponds have a greater chance of supporting water beetles. There are many species of water beetle, each with their own preferred habitat.

Soft flowing fountains or waterfalls oxygenate ponds and help create suitable habitat for breeding dragonflies. Powerful water fountains can scare away some dragonflies and they are unlikely to use the pond to lay their eggs.

ReWild Benefits

Water beetles are efficient predators and excellent pests controllers around the home. If you see water beetles around pond, you can record your sighting on Atlas of Living Australia!

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Water Beetles

Habitat at a Glance

Habitat Guide - Shelter

Habitat Guide - Food and Water

ReWild Benefits

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