Whirligig beetle
From Free net encyclopedia
{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Whirligig beetle
| regnum = Animalia
| phylum = Arthropoda
| classis = Insecta
| subclassis = Pterygota
| infraclassis = Neoptera
| superordo = Endopterygota
| ordo = Coleoptera
| subordo = Adephaga
| familia = Gyrinidae
| familia_authority = Latreille, 1802
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision =
Andogyrus
Aulonogyrus
Dineutus
Enhydrus
Gyretes
Gyrinus
Heterogyrus
Macrogyrus
Metagyrinus
Orectochilus
Orectogyrus
Porrorhynchus
Spanglerogyrus
}}
The whirligig beetles are a family (Gyrinidae) of water beetles that normally live on the surface of the water. They get their common name from their habit of swimming rapidly in circles when alarmed, and are also notable for their divided eyes which can see both above and below water.
The family includes about 700 species worldwide, in 13 genera.
Reference
- Ross H. Arnett, Jr. and Michael C. Thomas, American Beetles (CRC Press, 2001), chap. 7