Whirligigs

Whirligig beetles have the most marvellous -- and the most fitting -- of names.

Technically, these metallic black water beetles are known as Gyrinidae. That's Latin for circle. That's what they do.   Gathering in large numbers, they spin in endless circles on the surface of the water.  Swimming is easy -- their orange legs (at least the middle and back pair) are flat and wide, like boat oars.

These were hanging out in the rushes at the beach near Springside cottage. Taffy was the one who waded out into the rushes and let me know there was something totally cool going on out there. I had to lean precipitously out from the dry portion of the shore to get a few pictures of them.

While they like the surface, these beetles can and do dive, especially if alarmed. When they do, the water seems to boil with beetles.  They can stay under quite some time, too, since they carry their own air supply with them in the form of a tiny bubble of air at the tip of their abdomen.

They have interesting eyes. Compound eyes (which are not unusual in insects), but these are divided in two so the beetle  can see both above and below the surface of the water at the same time. Although, spinning as they do, I don't know how they can possibly focus on anything! I'd be dizzy!

You'll get an idea of just how dizzying their whirligig lifestyle is by watching this little video I took!