Eretes australis (Padded Diving Beetle)

Alice Springs Fauna •

Known commonly as the Padded Diving Beetle (Eretes australis), the adult male have what is described as padded feet, that is used to hold onto the female when mating.

The species Eretes australis (subfamily Dytiscinae) is one of the most common and widespread water beetles in Australia, that is found in both permanent or temporary aquatic habitats. A diving beetle, the adult are strong fliers, and will be attracted to lights at night, especially around backyard swimming pools. The Eretes australis pictured here was rescued from a local swimming pool in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.

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• Scientific classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Subphylum: Hexapoda
• Class: Insecta
• Subclass: Pterygota
• Order: Coleoptera
• Suborder: Adephaga
• Superfamily: Dytiscoidea
• Family: Dytiscidae
• Subfamily: Dytiscinae
• Genus: Eretes
• Species: Eretes australis

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Alice Springs FaunaNative Bees Beetles Birds Gastropods (Gastropoda) Insects Marsupials Reptiles Spiders

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