water beetle

American  

noun

1. any of various aquatic beetles, as a predaceous diving beetle.

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water beetle British  

noun

1. any of various beetles of the families Dysticidae, Hydrophilidae, etc, that live most of the time in freshwater ponds, rivers, etc See whirligig beetle

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Etymology

Origin of water beetle

First recorded in 1660–70

Example Sentences

"The lake used to be full of newts as well as cool water beetles and other animals," Vukovic reports.

From Salon

These habitats support a large number of freshwater species, including crested newts, toads, fish, water beetles, dragon flies and wetland plants such as the water-violet.

From BBC

Last year, I dug a pond at the edge of the copse; within days water beetles had found their way into it; dragonflies zip across it.

From The Guardian

Inside is a siren over a foot long, surrounded by a carpet of flopping tadpoles and water beetles.

From Washington Post

A new species of water beetle, discovered by scientists in Borneo, has been named after the Oscar-winning star of The Revenant.

From The Guardian