Thermonectus marmoratus is a relatively colorful North American species of
diving beetle known by the common names sunburst diving beetle and yellow-spotted diving beetle.[1] The behavior of this diving beetle has been compared to a scuba diver, since it carries with it a bubble of air as it dives down into the water.[2] Its aquatic larval stage was the first ever recorded use of
bifocals in the animal world. The beetle uses in its principal eyes two
retinas and two distinct
focal planes that are substantially separated, in the manner of bifocals to switch their vision from up-close to distance, for easy and efficient capture of their prey.[3]
Because of their bright
aposematic colors, they are often displayed in zoos, sometimes together with Abedus herberti (also found together in the wild[4]) and other aquatic beetles.[5]
Physical description
The adult beetle has a length of 0.8–1.5 cm (0.31–0.59 in),[6][7] with females slightly larger than males. The sunburst diving beetle has a black and streamlined
carapace covered with bright yellow or golden spots. The male has a suction disk on each
foreleg.[8][9]
Colors and protection
The sunburst diving beetle's distinctive yellow spots on a black background serve as a warning sign to predators that the insect can release a foul tasting chemical.[10] The milky appearing chemical is ejected from specialized
glands found behind the insect's head, and has been found to be made primarily out of the
steroid hormones cybisterone and mirasorvone. It has been further hypothesized that mirasorvone functions as a fish deterrent.[11]
Behavior
Diet
Sunburst diving beetles are
predators and
scavengers of small animals, especially
invertebrates such as other
aquatic insects and
snails, but also small
vertebrates such as young fish and
tadpoles. If available, they prefer to feed on small, already dead
soft-bodied animals.[4] These beetles are useful because they eat
mosquito larvae and pupae. They have also been observed swarming a prey item and feeding en masse. In captivity, these beetles will feed on flake fish food and live
crickets.[12][13]
Swimming
Sunburst diving beetles live in water and swim well.[1][8] The diving beetle swims by thrusting its
hind legs simultaneously, and can remain underwater for extended periods of time by storing an air bubble beneath its wings.[14]
They inhabit various slow-moving freshwater habitats, especially shallow, temporary or intermittent pools and creeks (
arroyos) with little or no aquatic vegetation.[7][17] When their water source dries up they will fly to a new one.
Development of eggs and larvae
Eggs that are laid by the mother are initially 3.5 to 4 mm in length and lack
pigmentation or any special features – causing them to be white and opaque. As the
embryo develops, it begins to appear more translucent. Around a third of the way into development, the eyes become externally visible, however, the head region will only become discernible nearly halfway into development.[18] The
larvae of T. marmoratus have legs, a soft body, antennae, and are aquatic - preying primarily on
mosquito larvae and other aquatic animals. The beetles
pupate on land, and can develop from an egg to an adult in 28 days.[19]
Visual system
Multiple retinas
Scientists have discovered the larval visual system of Thermonectus marmoratus have incredibly complex eyes that resemble a camera's
bifocal capabilities. The beetle has a total of 12 eyes (six eyes on either side of its head), but a total of twenty eight
retinas.[20] Early in the organism's development, there are many conserved functions and cell lineages between the diving beetle and other insect species such as the fly (Drosophila). However, there are also some stark differences, including larger numbers of cells which will form the two retinas per eye, as well as a large scale reorganization of the eye tissues. This is especially observed with the migration of
photoreceptors in later stages of development.[21] The eyes are also not attached to any
muscles, which restricts them from moving. Instead, the beetle scans its visual field by moving its head from side to side.[22] The larvae eyes are mapped to six distinct
neuropils (clusters of interwoven
nerves) that function as the
optic lobe. As the beetle reaches adulthood – these neurophils degenerate and are replaced with a mature optic lobe. Adult beetles develop
compound eyes, similar to many other insects.[23]
Eye patch
Along with the six eyes on either side of the head, larvae also have an eye patch. This eye patch does not have a
lens, but is composed of retinal tissue. Scientists theorize that this functions in filling the gap in vision at the top of the head, and can alert the beetle larvae of a change in light – which may be indicative of an overhead predator.[24]
Bifocal lens
The diving beetle has a unique bifocal lens which is
asymmetric. The
protein makeup of the middle of the lens is different from that along the edges.[25] Scientists have found that this disparity in the lens goes hand-in-hand with the multiple retinas in each eye. The bifocal asymmetric lens allows for two images to be formed within the eye – each focusing on one of the retinas. The unfocused image is also shifted due to the asymmetry – causing only the focused image to be displayed on one retina – further enhancing
resolution.[26]
^
abEVANS, D.L.; SCHMIDT, J.O.; EDs. (1990). Insect Defenses, Adaptive Mechanisms and Strategies of Prey and Predators. State Univ. of New York Press, Albany. pp. 482 pp.{{
cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link)
^MILNE, L; MILNE, M. (1980). "Marbled Diving Beetle (Thermonectus marmoratus)," The Dobbin Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders. Alfred A. Knopf, NY. pp. 542+ plate 96.
^Arnett Jr, R.H.; Jacques Jr, R.L. (1981). "Thermonectus marmoratus," Simon and Schuster's Guide to Insects. New York, Toronto and London: Simon and Schuster Inc. pp. 86–87.
^MORGAN, R.C. (1992). "Natural History, Captive Management and Display of the Sunburst Diving Beetle Thermonectus marmoratus," AAZPA/CAZPA Annual Conference Proceedings. pp. 457–464.
^Shaverdo, H.V. (2005). Konstantinov; Tishechkin; Penev (eds.). "New Records of Some Species of Diving Water Beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) from the Palearctic and Nearctic Regions". Contributions to Systematics and Biology of Beetles Papers Celebrating the 80th Birthday of Igor Konstantinovich Lopatin: 327–331.
^Stecher, Nadine; Stowasser, Annette; Stahl, Aaron; Buschbeck, Elke K. (July 2016). "Embryonic development of the larval eyes of the Sunburst Diving Beetle, Thermonectus marmoratus (Insecta: Dytiscidae): a morphological study". Evolution & Development. 18 (4): 216–228.
doi:
10.1111/ede.12192.
ISSN1525-142X.
PMID27402568.
S2CID3306073.
^Sbita, Sarah J.; Morgan, Randy C.; Buschbeck, Elke K. (December 2007). "Eye and optic lobe metamorphosis in the sunburst diving beetle, Thermonectus marmoratus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)". Arthropod Structure & Development. 36 (4): 449–462.
Bibcode:
2007ArtSD..36..449S.
doi:
10.1016/j.asd.2007.08.003.
ISSN1467-8039.
PMID18089121.
^Mandapaka, Karunyakanth; Morgan, Randy C.; Buschbeck, Elke K. (10 July 2006). "Twenty-eight retinas but only twelve eyes: an anatomical analysis of the larval visual system of the diving beetle Thermonectus marmoratus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)". The Journal of Comparative Neurology. 497 (2): 166–181.
doi:
10.1002/cne.20974.
ISSN0021-9967.
PMID16705677.
S2CID43655882.
^Stecher, Nadine; Stowasser, Annette; Stahl, Aaron; Buschbeck, Elke K. (2016). "Embryonic development of the larval eyes of the Sunburst Diving Beetle, Thermonectus marmoratus (Insecta: Dytiscidae): a morphological study". Evolution & Development. 18 (4): 216–228.
doi:
10.1111/ede.12192.
ISSN1525-142X.
PMID27402568.
S2CID3306073.
^Buschbeck, Elke K.; Sbita, Sarah J.; Morgan, Randy C. (September 2007). "Scanning behavior by larvae of the predacious diving beetle, Thermonectus marmoratus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) enlarges visual field prior to prey capture". Journal of Comparative Physiology A. 193 (9): 973–982.
doi:
10.1007/s00359-007-0250-x.
ISSN0340-7594.
PMID17639412.
S2CID25983950.
^Sbita, S. J.; Morgan, R. C.; Buschbeck, E. K. (December 2007). "Eye and optic lobe metamorphosis in the sunburst diving beetle, Thermonectus marmoratus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)". Arthropod Structure & Development. 36 (4): 449–462.
Bibcode:
2007ArtSD..36..449S.
doi:
10.1016/j.asd.2007.08.003.
PMID18089121.
^Mandapaka, Karunyakanth; Morgan, Randy C.; Buschbeck, Elke K. (2006). "Twenty-eight retinas but only twelve eyes: An anatomical analysis of the larval visual system of the diving beetle Thermonectus marmoratus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)". Journal of Comparative Neurology. 497 (2): 166–181.
doi:
10.1002/cne.20974.
ISSN1096-9861.
PMID16705677.
S2CID43655882.