Rhantus exsoletus

This is a predacious diving beetle – Rhantus exsoletus – which I found in one of the ponds as I evicted some of the algae with a net. It frequents the vegetation in almost stagnant water. It’s a species I haven’t seen here before and some people may wonder where insects like these come from when the nearest neighbouring pond is some distance away. The answer is simple – they fly! Like most species of beetle this one is quite capable of flight, the wings being hidden, folded, beneath the hard wing case or elytra.