It can hide easily among plants because of its size and colour. The nymph of the crawling water beetle is light brown. Its body ends in two thread-like tails. Little is known about the pupa stage of this tiny insect. Both adults and nymphs eat algae with their chewing mouth parts.
Adults also eat other tiny aquatic animals.
Crawling water beetles are not good swimmers. They usually crawl among the plants, eating and trying to avoid their many enemies.