Whirligig beetle

Whirligig beetle

Taxobox
name = Whirligig beetle


image_width = 200px
image_caption = "Gyrinus natator"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
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.

They are also known for their grouping behavior, a survival mechanism which helps them to avoid predation. Their places in the group are thought to be determined by a number of factors, including hunger, sex, species, water temperature, age, parasite level and stress level. Research being done on their behavior serves as a model to study the significance of chemical defense in relation to their position in the group, which relates to such fields as nanotechnology.Fact|date=November 2007Confusing|date=November 2007

They have a bubble of air trapped underneath their abdomens which allows them to dive and swim under the water for a long time. They bite and their bites cause a localised allergic reaction in susceptible individuals.The family includes about 700 species worldwide.

References

*cite book |author=Ross H. Arnett, Jr. & Michael C. Thomas |title=American Beetles |publisher=CRC Press |year=2001

*cite journal |quotes=no |author=William L. Romey |title=Temperature and hunger alter grouping trade-offs in whirligig beetles |journal=The American Midland Naturalist |year=1995 |volume=134 |issue=1 |pages=51–62 |doi=10.2307/2426482


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • whirligig beetle — n. any of a small family (Gyrinidae) of bluish black gregarious beetles found darting about in circles on the surface of ponds, streams, etc …   English World dictionary

  • whirligig beetle — any of numerous aquatic beetles of the family Gyrinidae, commonly seen in groups circling about rapidly on the surface of the water. [1850 55] * * * ▪ insect       any of about 700 species of beetles (insect order Coleoptera) that are widespread… …   Universalium

  • whirligig beetle — noun aquatic beetle that circles rapidly on the water surface • Hypernyms: ↑beetle • Member Holonyms: ↑Gyrinidae, ↑family Gyrinidae * * * noun : any of numerous beetles of the family Gyrinidae that have a firm oval usually dark body with a bronzy …   Useful english dictionary

  • whirligig beetle — n. aquatic beetle that circles quickly on the surface of calm freshwater in groups …   English contemporary dictionary

  • whirligig beetle — noun Date: 1855 any of a family (Gyrinidae) of beetles with two pairs of eyes and clubbed antennae that live mostly on the surface of water where they swim swiftly about in circles …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • whirligig beetle — noun Any of various water beetles of the family Gyrinidae that swim rapidly in circles when alarmed …   Wiktionary

  • whirligig beetle — whirl′igig bee tle n. ent any of numerous aquatic beetles of the family Gyrinidae, commonly seen in groups circling about rapidly on the surface of water • Etymology: 1850–55 …   From formal English to slang

  • whirligig beetle — /wɜligɪg ˈbitl/ (say werleegig beetl) noun any of the aquatic beetles of the family Gyrinidae, commonly seen circling rapidly about in large numbers on the surface of the water …  

  • Whirligig (disambiguation) — Whirligig is a generic name for an object that spins or whirls (or has whirling parts). The term may specifically refer to one of the following*Whirligig beetle *Whirligig mite, Anystis baccarum (L.) *Samara, fruit falling in spiral (from ash… …   Wikipedia

  • whirligig — ► NOUN 1) a toy that spins round, e.g. a top or windmill. 2) another term for ROUNDABOUT(Cf. ↑roundabout) (in sense 2). 3) (also whirligig beetle) a small black water beetle which typically swims rapidly in circles on the surface. ORIGIN from… …   English terms dictionary

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