G. minutus typically inhabit open edges of larger water bodies like lakes and reservoirs but also reside in sparsely vegetated ponds and slow-flowing river parts.

[4] G. minutus lacks volatile production for predator defense or has minimal amounts, likely due to its behavior and habitat preferences.

Male specimens from Wyoming and Colorado tend to be slightly larger than those from Canada, though females show little variation.

It can be found throughout Canada and North America and is locally common across the northern Palaearctic region, spanning from Spain to northeastern China, including Sakhalin and Hokkaido.

Typically, they are found near the open margins of larger water bodies like lakes and reservoirs, but they also inhabit sparsely vegetated ponds in moorlands and slow-flowing parts of rivers.

[4] Gyrinid beetles have developed an intricate chemical mechanism that functions both as a means of communication and defense against predators.

These volatile substances might be effective for communication, as signals transmitted through the air can be rapidly detected across open water surfaces.

[9] The production of pygidial secretion by gyrinids fluctuates throughout the seasons, with one peak occurring in late summer and another in spring.

The absence of volatiles seems to be linked to the behavior and habitat preferences of the beetles: G. minutus tends to live alone among emergent vegetation in lakes.

[9] The evolution of chemical defense and alarm signals appears to be linked to the tendency of these beetles to form groups or aggregations.

Though G. minutus rarely occurs in large aggregates, it can still respond to the alarm signals released by other Gyrinus species.

Occasionally, individuals of G. minutus may present within groups of a scented species (for example, G. aeratus) on open water surfaces, which are outside their typical habitats.

[10] Researchers have identified three functions of pygidial secretion: (1) preventing microorganisms from attaching to the body, (2) deterring predators, and (3) enhancing the wettability of the chitin.

The release of alarm volatiles in response to "danger" above the water surface, such as moving objects that cast shadows, suggests that bird predation is a significant threat to gyrinids.

Indeed, adult gyrinids have been identified as prey for at least two European bird species: the black tern and the greenshank.

However, the high molecular weight substances gyrinidal and gyrinidione are the active components responsible for fish rejection.

If it’s too hard to remove the chemicals, the fish would not spend energy on flushing; instead, they immediately spit out the prey.

[5] An outstanding question for future research is whether G. minutus has lost the capability to produce volatile alarm substances, or if it never possessed this ability.