Water Beetles

Beetles are differentiated from bugs by having the first pair of wings developed into armored shields, which protect the second pair of wings and the soft body. They can still fly with their second pair of wings, which fold up out of sight when not in use. Only adults are shown here.

Water Scavenger Beetle

Water Scavenger Beetle
Hydrophilus triangularis
to 1.3"

Adults feed mainly on plant matter; larvae are carnivorous. Other diving beetles are predatory.



Whirligig Beetle

Whirligig Beetle
Dineutes spp.
to 1/2"

Whirligigs are generally found skating along the surface, although they are also good divers and fliers.


Clam Dredge
The Adriatic - an old clam dredge, Notice the "birds" hanging from the ends of the outriggers. These are lowered into the water while underway to stabilize the vessel.

A dredge is a vessel designed to remove sediment from the bottom, generally for the purpose of widening and deepening ship channels. However, the term is often applied to a specialized type of trawler. A clam dredge is a special type of trawler that takes clams from the sand. The device that actually does this is also called a dredge. Resembling a large steel cage, it is dragged across the sandy bottom, and rakes out the shellfish, along with rocks, debris, some bottom fish and lobsters, the occasional lost anchor, and anything else that is in its path.

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