Cybister chinensis

Cybister chinensis is a species of diving beetle native to East Asia. It is predatory, feeding on tadpoles, small fish and aquatic insects, and adults are about long.

In culture

This beetle is the focus of the Water Beetle Song, a traditional Korean children’s song. It reveals this beetle’s shape and movement were the inspiration for Imjin War naval officer and scientist-shipbuilder Na Dae-yong’s design of his turtle ship. He is known to have sighted one spinning around in a reservoir. Set at this pivotal moment, the song is written in his voice as he praises how well the beetle spins and tells it he will build a ship resembling it. He declares that his invention will defeat the marine enemies to come. This way, he foretells the future Imjin War. To this day, Na Dae-yong’s descendants have been passing down the Water Beetle Song orally. It has also been attested from Naju, his city of origin, along with from Oryun-dong.