Predator vs. Prey: Diving Beetle vs. Golden Shiner

Diving Beetle vs. Golden Shiner

Scuba Skills

To breathe underwater, the spotted predaceous diving beetle holds an air bubble under its wing covers, where its breathing tubes are.

Fang Force

On contact, the beetle’s sharp, hollow fangs inject digestive juices, helping disable prey.

Oar Action

Powerful, oar-shaped hind legs covered with swimming hairs help the beetle thrust toward larger prey.

Sensitive Skin

The shiner’s skin-deep sense organs, called lateral lines, help it feel the slightest change in the water and dart away.

School Safety

By schooling together, small fish multiply their ability to detect and confuse predators.

And the winner is…

The diving beetle is well-equipped to ambush and overpower larger prey, but the shiner’s senses, schooling behavior, and speed help it win this race to safety.