The sunburst diving beetle is named for its colorful pattern of yellow and black across the back. This warns predators that they are equipped with a foul tasting fluid which they can use to get rid of predators.

They make their home in small ponds of water in desert and forest habitats.

Much of their time is spent in the water with the ability to trap an air bubble under the wings which allows them to remain underwater for longer periods. They tend to only leave the water to fly or lay eggs.

Sunburst diving beetles face a range of predators along with threats from pollution.

Learn more about these brilliant beetles by reading on below.

Appearance

Their large rear legs are colored red and help to push them through the water. The legs have fringes which assist with floating in the water.

On either side of the body are three legs for a total of six. Protruding from the head are a pair of antennae.

Across their back the sunburst diving beetle is colored black with yellow spots patterning this background. These are considered warning colors to show predators that they have a foul tasting chemical they can use to fend off threats. The underside is colored orange or reddish-orange.

Sunburst diving beetles have a unique eye while in their larval stage with a bifocal lens. It allows two images to form within the same eye at the same time. This is the first recorded use of bifocal technology in the animal kingdom.

This ability allows them to switch their vision from up close to long distance helping them find prey.

Once they metamorphose in to their adult form these eyes are reabsorbed and replaced with a compound eye.

Females tend to be slightly larger than males. They measure 1-1.5cm (0.4-0.6in) long.

Diet

These beetles are carnivores. They hunt for invertebrates, small fish and tadpoles.

Sunburst diving beetles play an important role in controlling populations of mosquitos by eating the larvae from in the water.