Pond Life
Jul 20th, 2008 | By admin | Category: Nature & Wildlife
I took this photo of some creatures living in our pond, but I have no idea what they are. I’m guessing that the dead animal being eaten is a smooth newt, but what are the other two? The shrimp like beastie on the right kept his tail on the surface of the water. It looked like he was breathing through it if that’s any help to anyone.
It is illegal to sell smooth newts under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Another revenue stream for the farm up the swanny, never mind. 
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Hey
That’s a gaint diving bettle, a ferocious eater of that water underworld and what looks like a dragon fly larvae (looks to large for a damsel, but I could be wrong). Both are carnivorous and will take small tadpoles, newts and whatnot as fair game.
Here’s the link to the lovely Pond Consservation. It’s thanks to them that I know what a Gaint Diving beetle looks like.
http://www.pondconservation.org.uk
Yep. Dragonfly larvae, diving beetle and a palmate newt. Nice gruesome photo!
The palmate newt is being eaten by a Dytiscus beetle and larva. For more images have a look on:
http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/invertebrates_terrestrial_and_freshwater/Dytiscus_marginalis/ARK008743.html?offset=0px
Best wishes,
Dorothy
Dorothy Wright
Great Crested Newt Conservation Officer
The Herpetological Conservation Trust
Very impressive image and can only add that it is a male palmate newt (you can just make out the webbed hind feet - not present in females) being eaten by the great diving beetle and great diving beetle larva.