Water Shrimp

Sparsholt Schools' Centre for Environmental Education

	Pond Animal Information

		Water Beetle Larva Scientific Name: Dytiscus marginalis Group: Insecta (Coleoptera) Size: 20 mm to 50 mm The larva are found in spring and early summer. They, like the adults, are ferocious predators. The animals have long, pointed mouth parts which pierce the soft tissue the prey. The larva then 'sucks' its victim until nothing but the hard skeleton is left behind!

Food chain Position in food chain: Secondary consumer (carnivore) They eat: any animal of their own size, or even those a little larger! They are eaten by: Water mites and larger animals such as fish		The tail is out of the water to breathe! The animal breathes air through openings (spiracles) at the tip of its abdomen.
		Life cycle The larva pupate (change to adults) in the bank soil in early July. If later in the summer, the larva may remain as a pupa stage until the following summer.