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06-Jun-2020 Gillian Mastromatteo

Tadpole being predated by predaceous diving beetle larvae

Beaver Trail

Like dragonflies, both the adult and larval forms of the predaceous diving beetles are predators, and they often hunt prey larger than themselves. The larval form has its own name – water tiger – although the way they kill and feed more resembles the method employed by Robber Flies than tigers. They inject digestive fluids into their prey via the pincers, and when the fluid has killed its prey, the water tiger will consume the partially digested tissues and organs. Needless to say, the tadpole did not survive the encounter, and it appeared to be dead but fully intact once the water tiger was done with it.

Nikon COOLPIX P610
1/200s f/6.5 at 258.0mm iso400 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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