What is the feeding classification given to Diving Beetles such as *Dytiscus* species?
Answer
Obligate Carnivore
Diving beetles, exemplified by species like *Dytiscus*, are strictly defined by their feeding category as 'Obligate Carnivores.' This classification means their survival and growth are dependent upon a diet consisting solely or nearly entirely of animal matter. Both their aggressive adult forms and their intensely voracious larval stages target other aquatic life, including insects, small fish, and tadpoles. This commitment to a carnivorous diet places them in the role of apex or mid-level predator in the ecosystem, necessitating a constant input of mobile prey to sustain their metabolic requirements and development.
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