Whirligig Beetle

Whirligig beetles are water beetles comprising the family Gyrinidae that usually swim on the surface of the water if undisturbed, though they swim underwater when threatened. They get their common name from their habit of swimming rapidly in circles when alarmed, and are notable for divided eyes believed to let them see both above and below the waterline. The family includes some 700 living species worldwide in 15 genera, ranging from about 3 to 18 millimeters long, and belongs to the beetle suborder Adephaga, which also includes ground beetles and diving beetles.