order
                        
                      
                                    Coleoptera
                                       “Adult Beetles”
                                  
                                    Coleoptera
                                       “Larval Beetles”
                                  
                                    Diptera
                                       “True Flies”
                                  
                                    Ephemeroptera
                                       “Mayflies”
                                  
                                    Hemiptera
                                       “True Bugs”
                                  
                                    Lepidoptera
                                       “Aquatic Caterpillars, Snout Moths”
                                  
                                    Megaloptera
                                       “Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies”
                                  
                                    Odonata
                                       “Dragonflies and Damselflies”
                                  
                                    Plecoptera
                                       “Stoneflies”
                                  
                                    Trichoptera
                                       “Caddisflies”
                                 family
                        
                     Gyrinidae
               
            
                  “Whirligig Beetles”
               
      Genus Overview
                  
               
                        14 species in North America. Observed swimming on the surface of calm water, near banks of large rivers. Their eyes are divided as adults, giving them the ability to see above and below the surface. Dineutus is larger than the other genera of the family. When disturbed they produce a strong odor believe to deter predators.  
                  
               Characteristics
                  
               POLLUTION TOLERANCE
                        Southeast: 5.5 and higher
                                 Midwest: 3.7 and higher
                                 Mid-Atlantic: 4 and higher
                              0 = least tolerant, 10 = most tolerant
                        FEEDING HABITS
                        
                                 Engulfer / Predator
                        
                     MOVEMENT
                        
                                 Diver
Swimmer
                        
                     Swimmer
DISTRIBUTION
                        
                                 Southeast
                        
                     HABITAT
                        
                                 Lentic-littoral
Lotic-depositional
                        
                     Lotic-depositional
Diagnostic Characters
               order
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    Elytra
                                 family
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    4 Eyes
                                 genus
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    Scutellum
                                 
                  + Expanded Character List
                  
                     
               
            
                        Order:
                           Adults with hardened forewings (elytra) covering the hind wings. 
                     
                     
                        Family:
                           Short antennae with clubbed apices. Compound eyes divided into separate dorsal and ventral portions ("4-eyed" appearance). 
                     
                     
                        Genus:
                           Scutellum concealed,  length large 8-15.5 mm, divided eyes, 
 
                     
                   
                   
            Dorsal
               Ventral
               


