back
back
Silver beetle bottomside
Hydrophilus piceus
Great Silver Beetle (female)

The under side of this female Great silver beetle shows how the species got it's name. The air supply kept on the belly (called a plastron), reflects the light like silver. The air is kept there by means of a layer of special hairs. On the head the antenna are visible: they are folded back against the neck, parts of the clubs are just visible, the rest is hidden in the silver of the airbuble. The longer, projected "antenna" are the palps of the jaws.


back
back to: W A T E R B E E T L E S ( 2 )

COPYRIGHT:
All pictures on this site were made by Gerard Visser (Aadorp, Netherlands), unless stated otherwise. All rights remain with him. These pictures may not be used for purposes any other than private viewing or printing. Do NOT hardlink to these pictures or place them on other websites without the author's approval. Should you need them for purposes which include third parties, you must ask the author permission by e-mail. People, who want to use this pictures for exhibitions or publications or educative material are much encouraged to do so, after approval as mentioned and giving the normal credits.
© G.H. Visser 08-07-2003
rev.17-08-2008

www.microcosmos.nl

Valid XHTML 1.0!