Diving beetle

Rhantus plantari is a naturally uncommon endemic species of diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It was rediscovered in 1986. The Rhantus suturalis species of diving beetle is more common, found throughout New Zealand and the world.

The Rhantus plantari endemic beetle traps air under its hardened wing case (elytra), which allows it to dive under the water for longer. Diving beetles can be found in freshwater ponds, troughs and slow-moving weed-clogged streams.

Image of Rhantus suturalis copyright Zoe Quested, CC BY-NC 4.0. Sourced from iNaturalist NZ.