ABOUT
About Okinawa Striped Diving Beetle
Grows to about 11-14mm. A southern-type diving beetle found in the Ryukyu Islands south of Yakushima, and abroad in Taiwan, China, and Southeast Asia. Lives in still water such as ponds and rice paddies rich in aquatic plants. In addition to habitat decline, many diving beetles, including this species, have recently been found being sold for what appears to be the pet trade, so in January 2023 it was designated, along with other diving beetles, a Specified Second-Class Nationally Rare Wild Species. This designation only regulates capture and transfer for the purpose of sale or distribution; capturing it for observation is not restricted. It closely resembles a related species of the same genus distributed west of Honshu, but the two are easy to tell apart since their ranges do not overlap.
SAFETY
Observation Safety Notes
Please enjoy Amami's wildlife through photographs. Some species are protected by law or local ordinance, and capturing or removing them is prohibited. In special protection zones within the national park, collecting any wildlife is prohibited entirely. Please check the notes on this page, and confirm local rules before visiting any site.
This creature is subject to: “Capture for sale or distribution prohibited (Specified Second-Class Nationally Rare Wild Species)”. Touching or capturing it is prohibited by law or ordinance.
