What it looks like: 9.8-12.7 mm in length. Its body is oval-shaped and light yellow-brown. The eyes are surrounded by black markings and on the pronotum behind the eyes are two distinct round black spots. The elytra, or wing coverings, are mottled with brown spots and the legs are reddish-brown. The underside of these beetles is dark brown.

Where you'll find it: This common water beetle has an expansive range that covers the western United States and Canada and extends down through Central America.

Natural History: These beetles like small clear streams. They can be found in vegetation or in small, coarse gravel.