The species Eretes australis (subfamily Dytiscinae) is one of the most common and widespread water beetles in Australia, as well as being the only species in the genus to be found in Australia, as well as found from Asia to Europe.
Also commonly known as the Padded Diving Beetle, this diving beetle is found in both permanent or temporary aquatic habitats. The adults of this species are strong fliers, sometimes attracted to lights at night and can end up in swimming pools.
They have a smooth, elongated-oval shaped body ranging up to 40 mm in length. The common name of Padded Diving Beetle, describes the adult male that have padded feet by which they grip the female when mating.
Pictured here, the Eretes australis was rescued from a local swimming pool in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.
- 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
Footnote & References
- Padded Diving Beetle (Eretes australis), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/533293-Eretes-australis
- Eretes Castelnau, 1833, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/91f7c902-d4e3-4c79-8981-5c337fe9f650
- Dytiscidae, Water Beetles or Predacious Diving Beetles, CSIRO, https://www.ento.csiro.au/education/insects/coleoptera_families/dytiscidae.html
- Eretes australis (Erichson, 1842), GBIF, Global Biodiversity Information Facility, https://www.gbif.org/species/5809855
ColeopteraAmarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Aphanestes gymnopleura Buprestidae Cerambycidae Coleoptera (Beetles) Curculionidae Digitonthophagus gazella Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Johannica gemellata (Pandorea Leaf Beetle) Ladybirds (Beetles) Lepidiota Lucanidae Neospades sp Lycidae Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Pittosporum Leaf Beetle (Lamprolina impressicollis) Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus
InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera (True Bugs) Mango Planthopper Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Syrphidae Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub