This great diving beetle is perching on the floating leaves of brooklime, clearly deciding our wildlife pond isn't the right place for it. After watching this large beetle for some time, I became aware of a high pitched buzzing noise, a little like the sound of water escaping through a small hole (which is slightly concerning when sat next to a new pond...). Eventually, a few seconds after taking this photo, it took off in a rather sudden and bumbling manner, making me jump backwards.
A diving beetle has been present in our pond since almost a week after we made it, whether this is the same individual or not, I do not know, but it was lovely to watch it surface and dive to the bottom. We are still awaiting our delivery of oxygenating plants, as none survived in the previous pond, so I wonder whether the oxygen levels have depleted enough to make it uninhabitable for this species of still water. Hopefully, once they do arrive, more diving beetles and other species will colonise to make it a small oasis for wildlife.
References:
Chinery, M (2005) Collins Complete Guide to British Insects, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
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