The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
of
water beetle
A water beetle is a generalized name for any beetle that is adapted to living in water at any point in its life cycle. Most water beetles can only live in fresh water, with a few Marine (ocean), marine species that live in the intertidal zone or l ...
s. They occur in virtually any freshwater habitat around the world, but a few species live among leaf litter. The adults of most are between long, though much variation is seen between species. The European ''
Dytiscus latissimus
''Dytiscus latissimus'' is a species of beetle in family Dytiscidae.
Description
One of the largest representatives of the predaceous diving beetles of the genus '' Dytiscus'', ''D. latissimus'' can reach a length around . This beetle is similar ...
'' and Brazilian ''
Megadytes ducalis
''Megadytes ducalis'' is a species of water beetle in the family Dytiscidae. With a length of , it is the largest species in the family. Until recently, the species was only known from a single specimen that was collected in the 1800s from Brazil ...
'' are the largest, reaching up to and respectively. In contrast, the smallest is likely the Australian ''
Limbodessus
''Limbodessus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Félix Guignot in 1939. It contains the following species:
* '' Limbodessus amabilis'' (Clark, 1862)
* '' Limbodessus atypicalis'' Watts & Humphreys, 2006
* '' ...
atypicali'' of subterranean waters, which only is about long. Most are dark brown, blackish, or dark
olive
The olive, botanical name ''Olea europaea'', meaning 'European olive' in Latin, is a species of small tree or shrub in the family Oleaceae, found traditionally in the Mediterranean Basin. When in shrub form, it is known as ''Olea europaea'' ...
in color with golden highlights in some
subfamilies
In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
. The
larva
A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle.
The ...
e are commonly known as water tigers due to their voracious appetite. They have short, but sharp
mandible
In anatomy, the mandible, lower jaw or jawbone is the largest, strongest and lowest bone in the human facial skeleton. It forms the lower jaw and holds the lower tooth, teeth in place. The mandible sits beneath the maxilla. It is the only movabl ...
s and immediately upon biting, they deliver digestive enzymes into prey to suck their liquefied remains. The family includes more than 4,000 described
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
in numerous
genera
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...
.
Habitat
Diving beetles are the most diverse beetles in the aquatic environment and can be found in almost every kind of freshwater habitat, from small rock pools to big lakes. Some dytiscid species are also found in brackish water. Diving beetles live in water bodies in various landscapes, including agricultural and urban landscapes. Some species, such as ''
Agabus uliginosus
''Agabus uliginosus'' is a species of beetle native to the Palearctic, including Europe, where it is only found in Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Great Britain including Shetland, Orkney, Hebrides and Isle of Man, Croatia, the Czech Republic, mainl ...
'' and ''
Acilius canaliculatus Acilius may refer to:
* The family name of any ancient Roman man of the '' gens Acilia'' (see for list)
* A genus of diving beetles (see Acilius (genus)), including:
**'' Acilius sulcatus''
**''Acilius duvergeri
''Acilius duvergeri'' is a speci ...
'', are found to be relatively tolerant to recent urbanization. One of the most important limiting factors for diving beetle occurrence is the presence of fish, which predate on the beetles (mostly on larvae), compete for food, and change the structure of the habitat.
Larvae and development
When still in larval form, the beetles vary in size from about 1 to 5 cm (0.5 to 2.0 in). The larval bodies are shaped like crescents, with the tail long and covered with thin hairs. Six legs protrude from along the
thorax
The thorax or chest is a part of the anatomy of humans, mammals, and other tetrapod animals located between the neck and the abdomen. In insects, crustaceans, and the extinct trilobites, the thorax is one of the three main divisions of the cre ...
, which also sports the same thin hairs. The head is flat and square, with a pair of long, large pincers. When hunting, they cling to grasses or pieces of wood along the bottom, and hold perfectly still until prey passes by, then they lunge, trapping their prey between their front legs and biting down with their pincers. The larvae are also known to partially consume prey and discard the carcass if another potential prey swims nearby. Their usual prey includes
tadpole
A tadpole is the larval stage in the biological life cycle of an amphibian. Most tadpoles are fully aquatic, though some species of amphibians have tadpoles that are terrestrial. Tadpoles have some fish-like features that may not be found i ...
s and
glassworm
''Chaoborus'' is a genus of midges in the family Chaoboridae. The larvae are known as glassworms because they are transparent. They can be found commonly in lakes all over the world and can be up to . The adults are sometimes called phantom midg ...
s, among other smaller water-dwelling creatures. As the larvae mature, they crawl from the water on the sturdy legs, and bury themselves in the mud for
pupation
A pupa ( la, pupa, "doll"; plural: ''pupae'') is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation between immature and mature stages. Insects that go through a pupal stage are holometabolous: they go through four distinct stages in thei ...
. After about a week, or longer in some species, they emerge from the mud as adults. Adult diving beetles have been found to oviposit their eggs within frog spawn in highly ephemeral habitats, with their eggs hatching within 24 hours after the frogs and the larvae voraciously predating on the recently hatched tadpoles.
Edibility
Adult Dytiscidae, particularly of the genus '' Cybister'', are
edible
An edible item is any item that is safe for humans to eat. "Edible" is differentiated from "eatable" because it does not indicate how an item tastes, only whether it is fit to be eaten. Nonpoisonous items found in nature – such as some mushroo ...
. Remnants of '' C. explanatus'' were found in prehistoric human
coprolite
A coprolite (also known as a coprolith) is fossilized feces. Coprolites are classified as trace fossils as opposed to body fossils, as they give evidence for the animal's behaviour (in this case, diet) rather than morphology. The name is de ...
s in a Nevada cave, likely sourced from the
Humboldt Sink
The Humboldt Sink is an intermittent dry lake bed, approximately 11 mi (18 km) long, and 4 mi (6 km) across, in northwestern Nevada in the United States. The body of water in the sink is known as Humboldt Lake. The sink and it ...
. In
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
, ''C. explanatus'' is eaten roasted and salted to accompany
taco
A taco (, , ) is a traditional Mexican food consisting of a small hand-sized corn- or wheat-based tortilla topped with a filling. The tortilla is then folded around the filling and eaten by hand. A taco can be made with a variety of filling ...
s. In Japan, '' C. japonicus'' has been used as food in certain regions such as Nagano prefecture. In the
Guangdong Province
Guangdong (, ), alternatively romanized as Canton or Kwangtung, is a coastal province in South China on the north shore of the South China Sea. The capital of the province is Guangzhou. With a population of 126.01 million (as of 2020) ...
of
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
great diving beetle
The great diving beetle (''Dytiscus marginalis'') is an aquatic diving beetle native to Europe and northern Asia, and in the UK is common in Wales, much of England and southern Scotland but less common on chalk and in the far north.
The great ...
(''D. marginalis'') are bred for human consumption, though as they are cumbersome to raise due to their carnivorous habit and have a fairly bland (though apparently not offensive) taste and little meat, this is decreasing. Dytiscidae are reportedly also eaten in
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
,
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
, and
New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu
Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea).
It is a simplified version of ...
.
Diving beetle conservation
The greatest threat to diving beetles is the degradation and disappearance of their habitats due to anthropogenic activities. For example, urbanisation has led to the decreasing quantity and quality of dytiscid habitats, which consequentially has increased the distance between habitats. Thus, dytiscids may be exposed to high predation risks during dispersal.
Dytiscid adults are eaten by many
bird
Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...
s,
mammal
Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...
s,
reptile
Reptiles, as most commonly defined are the animals in the class Reptilia ( ), a paraphyletic grouping comprising all sauropsids except birds. Living reptiles comprise turtles, crocodilians, squamates (lizards and snakes) and rhynchocephalians ( ...
s, and other vertebrate
predator
Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill th ...
s, despite their arsenal of chemical defenses. But by far the most important predator of diving beetles are fish, which limit the occurrence of most diving beetle species to fishless ponds, or to margins of aquatic habitats. Although the larvae of a few dytiscid species may become
apex predator
An apex predator, also known as a top predator, is a predator at the top of a food chain, without natural predators of its own.
Apex predators are usually defined in terms of trophic dynamics, meaning that they occupy the highest trophic lev ...
s in small
pond
A pond is an area filled with water, either natural or artificial, that is smaller than a lake. Defining them to be less than in area, less than deep, and with less than 30% emergent vegetation helps in distinguishing their ecology from th ...
s, their presence is also often incompatible with fish. Therefore, the main focus of water beetle conservation is the protection of natural, fish-less habitats.
In the European Union, two species of diving beetles are protected by the
Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats
The Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, also known as the Bern Convention (or Berne Convention), is a binding international legal instrument in the field of Nature Conservation, it covers the natural ...
, and thus serve as
umbrella species
Umbrella species are species selected for making wildlife conservation, conservation-related decisions, typically because protecting these species indirectly protects the many other species that make up the ecological community (ecology), community ...
for the protection of natural aquatic habitats: ''
Dytiscus latissimus
''Dytiscus latissimus'' is a species of beetle in family Dytiscidae.
Description
One of the largest representatives of the predaceous diving beetles of the genus '' Dytiscus'', ''D. latissimus'' can reach a length around . This beetle is similar ...
'' and ''
Graphoderus bilineatus
''Graphoderus bilineatus'' is a species of beetle in family Dytiscidae. The IUCN Red List reports it from Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, ...
''.
Cultural significance
The diving beetle plays a role in a
Cherokee
The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...
creation story. According to the narrative, upon finding nowhere to rest in the "liquid chaos" the beetle brought up soft mud from the bottom. This mud then spread out to form all of the land on Earth.
Ethnobiology
Adult Dytiscidae, as well as
Gyrinidae
The whirligig beetles are water beetles, comprising the family Gyrinidae that usually swim on the surface of the water if undisturbed, though they swim underwater when threatened. They get their common name from their habit of swimming rapidly i ...
, are collected by young girls in
East Africa
East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territories make up Eastern Africa:
Due to the historical ...
. It is believed that inducing the beetles to bite the nipples will stimulate breast growth. The effect of that habit has not been tested, but it is notable that the defense glands of diving beetles contain many types of bioactive steroids.
Parasites
Dytiscidae are parasitised by various
mites
Mites are small arachnids (eight-legged arthropods). Mites span two large orders of arachnids, the Acariformes and the Parasitiformes, which were historically grouped together in the subclass Acari, but genetic analysis does not show clear evid ...
Eylais
''Eylais'' is a genus of mites belonging to the family Eylaidae.
The genus has cosmopolitan distribution.
Species:
* ''Eylais abitibiensis'' Marshall, 1929
* ''Eylais amplipons'' Viets
Biology
''Eylais'' mite larvae are ectoparasites of divi ...
'' live beneath the
elytra
An elytron (; ; , ) is a modified, hardened forewing of beetles (Coleoptera), though a few of the true bugs (Hemiptera) such as the family Schizopteridae are extremely similar; in true bugs, the forewings are called hemelytra (sometimes alterna ...
of their hosts, those in genus ''Acherontacarus'' attach to the mesosternal regions and those in genus ''
Hydrachna
''Hydrachna'' is a genus of mites in the family Hydrachnidae, the sole genus of the family. There are more than 80 described species in ''Hydrachna''.
Species
These 87 species belong to the genus ''Hydrachna'':
* ''Hydrachna analis'' Viets & K. ...
'' attach to various locations. These mites are parasitic as larvae with the exception of ''Dytiscacarus'', which are parasitic for their entire life cycle.
Systematics
The following taxonomic sequence gives the
subfamilies
In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
, their associated
genera
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...
.
Subfamily
Agabinae
Agabinae is a subfamily of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are about 11 genera and more than 460 described species in Agabinae.
Genera
These 11 genera belong to the subfamily Agabinae:
* '' Agabinus'' Crotch, 1873
* '' ...
Agabus
Agabus ( el, Ἄγαβος) was an early follower of Christianity mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as a prophet. He is traditionally remembered as one of the Seventy Disciples described in Luke .
Biblical and traditional accounts
Accord ...
Colymbetinae
Colymbetinae is a subfamily of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are about 11 genera and at least 130 described species in Colymbetinae.
Genera
These 11 genera belong to the subfamily Colymbetinae:
* '' Anisomeria'' Bri ...
Carabdytes
''Carabdytes'' is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They ...
'' Balke, Hendrich & Wewalka, 1992
* ''
Bunites
''Bunites distigma'' is a species of beetles in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur in ...
'' Spangler, 1972
* ''
Colymbetes
''Colymbetes'' is a genus of beetles native to the Palearctic, including Europe, the Nearctic, the Near East and North Africa.
It contains the following species:Hoperius
''Hoperius planatus'' is a species of beetle in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur in ...
'' Fall, 1927
* ''
Meladema
''Meladema'' is a genus of beetles in family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur in virtually any f ...
'' Laporte, 1835
* ''
Melanodytes
''Melanodytes pustulatus'' is a species of beetle in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occu ...
'' Seidlitz, 1887
* ''
Neoscutopterus
''Neoscutopterus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, containing the following species:Rhantus
''Rhantus'' is a genus of beetle in family Dytiscidae. There are about 100 species distributed worldwide. They often live in pools and marshy habitat types.Alarie, Y., et al. (2009)Larval morphology of ''Rhantus'' Dejean, 1833 (Coleoptera: Dytisc ...
Copelatinae
Copelatinae is a subfamily of diving beetles, in the family Dytiscidae. The subfamily contains seven genera:
'' Agaporomorphus'', '' Aglymbus'', ''Copelatus'', '' Exocelina'', '' Lacconectus'', '' Liopterus'', and '' Madaglymbus''. Of these, th ...
Copelatus
''Copelatus'' is a large genus of small diving beetles. There are some 470 described species in the genus, found worldwide, but they are most diverse in tropical South America, Africa and South-East Asia.
Systematics
The genus ''Copelatus'' is ...
Coptotominae
''Coptotomus'' is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, the only genus of the subfamily Coptotominae. There are about six described species in ''Coptotomus'', found in North America and the Neotropics.
There is one extin ...
Megadytes
''Megadytes'' is a genus of diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. They are found in slow-moving or static freshwater habitats throughout most of the Neotropics, ranging from Florida and Mexico, through the West Indies and Central America, to S ...
'' Sharp, 1882
* ''
Onychohydrus
''Onychohydrus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur in virtual ...
'' Schaum & White, 1847
* ''
Regimbartina
''Regimbartina pruinosa'' is a species of beetle in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur ...
'' Chatanay, 1911
* ''
Spencerhydrus
''Spencerhydrus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur in virtu ...
'' Sharp, 1882
* ''
Sternhydrus
''Sternhydrus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur in virtual ...
'' Brinck, 1945
Subfamily
Dytiscinae
Dytiscinae is a subfamily of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They o ...
Hyderodes
''Hyderodes'' is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur in virtually ...
'' Hope, 1838
* ''
Megadytes
''Megadytes'' is a genus of diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. They are found in slow-moving or static freshwater habitats throughout most of the Neotropics, ranging from Florida and Mexico, through the West Indies and Central America, to S ...
Notaticus
''Notaticus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur in virtually ...
'' Zimmermann, 1928
* ''
Onychohydrus
''Onychohydrus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur in virtual ...
'' Schaum & White, 1847
* ''
Regimbartina
''Regimbartina pruinosa'' is a species of beetle in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur ...
'' Chatanay, 1911
* ''
Rhantaticus
''Rhantaticus congestus'' is a species of beetle in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur ...
'' Sharp, 1880
* ''
Sandracottus
Chandragupta Maurya (350-295 BCE) was a ruler in Ancient India who expanded a geographically-extensive kingdom based in Magadha and founded the Maurya dynasty. He reigned from 320 BCE to 298 BCE. The Maurya kingdom expanded to become an empi ...
'' Sharp, 1882
* ''
Spencerhydrus
''Spencerhydrus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur in virtu ...
'' Sharp, 1882
* ''
Sternhydrus
''Sternhydrus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur in virtual ...
'' Brinck, 1945
* ''
Thermonectus
''Thermonectus'' is a genus of beetle in family Dytiscidae. This genus is native to the New World, and mainly from warm temperate to tropical in distribution, but one species, ''T. basillaris'' occurs as far north as southern Ontario, Canada. The ...
'' Dejean, 1833
* '' Tikoloshanes'' Omer-Cooper, 1956
* †'' Ambarticus'' Yang et al. 2019
Burmese amber
Burmese amber, also known as Burmite or Kachin amber, is amber from the Hukawng Valley in northern Myanmar. The amber is dated to around 100 million years ago, during the latest Albian to earliest Cenomanian ages of the mid-Cretaceous period. The ...
, Myanmar, Late Cretaceous (
Cenomanian
The Cenomanian is, in the ICS' geological timescale, the oldest or earliest age of the Late Cretaceous Epoch or the lowest stage of the Upper Cretaceous Series. An age is a unit of geochronology; it is a unit of time; the stage is a unit in the s ...
)
Subfamily
Hydrodytinae
Hydrodytinae is a subfamily of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are at least two genera and four described species in Hydrodytinae.
Genera and Species
These genera and species belong to the subfamily Hydrodytinae:
* Genu ...
K.B.Miller, 2001
* ''
Hydrodytes
''Hydrodytes'' is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are at least three described species in ''Hydrodytes''. It is found in North America and the Neotropics
The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeogr ...
'' K.B.Miller, 2001
* ''
Microhydrodytes
''Microhydrodytes'' is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There is one described species in ''Microhydrodytes'', ''M. elachistus''. It is found in the Neotropics
The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biog ...
'' K.B.Miller, 2002
Subfamily
Hydroporinae
Hydroporinae is a subfamily of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. The ...
Geodessus
''Geodessus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur in virtually ...
Hygrotus
''Hygrotus'' is a genus of beetle in family Dytiscidae. It contains two subgenera (''Coelambus'' and ''Hygrotus'') and about 70 species, including:Hyphoporus'' Sharp, 1880
* '' Hyphovatus'' Wewalka & Biström, 1994
* '' Hyphydrus'' Illiger, 1802
* '' Hypodessus'' Guignot, 1939
* '' Iberoporus'' Castro & Delgado, 2001
* '' Incomptodessus'' K.B. Miller & García, 2011
* '' Kakadudessus'' Hendrich & Balke, 2009
* '' Laccornellus'' Roughley & Wolfe, 1987
* '' Laccornis'' Gozis, 1914
* '' Leiodytes'' Guignot, 1936
* ''
Limbodessus
''Limbodessus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Félix Guignot in 1939. It contains the following species:
* '' Limbodessus amabilis'' (Clark, 1862)
* '' Limbodessus atypicalis'' Watts & Humphreys, 2006
* '' ...
Schistomerus
''Schistomerus'' is an extinct genus of predaceous diving beetle that is known from one species, ''Schistomerus californense'', which inhabited Lake Barstow during the middle Miocene. It is the most common beetle found in the concretions from the ...
Laccodytes
''Laccodytes'' is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, containing the following species:Laccophilus'' Leach, 1815
* '' Laccoporus'' J. Balfour-Browne, 1939
* '' Laccosternus'' Brancucci, 1983
* '' Napodytes'' Steiner, 1981
* '' Neptosternus'' Sharp, 1882
* '' Philaccolilus'' Guignot, 1937
* '' Philaccolus'' Guignot, 1937
* '' Philodytes'' J. Balfour-Browne, 1939
Subfamily
Lancetinae
''Lancetes'' is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, the only member of the subfamily Lancetinae. There are more than 20 described species in ''Lancetes'', found in Australasia and the Neotropics
The Neotropical rea ...
Matus
Matus can be both a given name and surname. Common variants include Matúš, Matuš, and Matůš. Notable people with the name include:
Given name
;Matus
* Matus Bisnovat (1905–1977), Soviet aircraft and missile designer
* Matus Tomko (born 197 ...
'' Aubé, 1836
Subfamily †
Liadytiscinae
Liadytiscinae is a subfamily of extinct predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are about 5 genera and 10 described species in Liadytiscinae. All currently known members of the subfamily are known from the Early Cretaceous Jehol ...
Yixian Formation
The Yixian Formation (; formerly transcribed as Yihsien Formation) is a geological formation in Jinzhou, Liaoning, People's Republic of China, that spans the late Barremian and early Aptian stages of the Early Cretaceous. It is known for its ex ...
, China, Early Cretaceous (
Aptian
The Aptian is an age in the geologic timescale or a stage in the stratigraphic column. It is a subdivision of the Early or Lower Cretaceous Epoch or Series and encompasses the time from 121.4 ± 1.0 Ma to 113.0 ± 1.0 Ma (million years ago), a ...
Barremian
The Barremian is an age in the geologic timescale (or a chronostratigraphic stage) between 129.4 ± 1.5 Ma (million years ago) and 121.4 ± 1.0 Ma). It is a subdivision of the Early Cretaceous Epoch (or Lower Cretaceous Series). It is preceded ...
), Kzyl-Zhar, Kazakhstan, Late Cretaceous (
Turonian
The Turonian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, the second age in the Late Cretaceous Epoch, or a stage in the Upper Cretaceous Series. It spans the time between 93.9 ± 0.8 Ma and 89.8 ± 1 Ma (million years ago). The Turonian is preceded by t ...
Karabastau Formation
The Karabastau Formation ( kk, Qarabastaý svıtasy) is a geological formation and lagerstätte in the Karatau Mountains of southern Kazakhstan whose strata date to the Middle to Late Jurassic. It is an important locality for insect fossils that ...
Durlston Formation
The Durlston Formation is a geologic formation in England. Particularly in the Isle of Purbeck. It preserves fossils dating back to the Berriasian stage of the Lower Cretaceous.
Vertebrate paleobiota
Crocodyliformes
See also
* List of f ...
, United Kingdom, Early Cretaceous (Berriasian),
Zaza Formation
The Zaza Formation is a geological formation located in Buryatia (Russia). It dates to the Lower Cretaceous period. It is Aptian in age and consists of Sandstone, sandstones, Siltstone, siltstones, Marl, marls and bituminous Shale, shales, deposi ...
, Russia, Aptian
* † ''
Sinoporus
''Sinoporus'' is an extinct genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek ''dytikos'' (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles ...
* (2004): Water for a Healthy Country Family Dytiscidae Version of 2004-JUL-02. Retrieved 2008-AUG-04
* (2002) ''In: The Human Use of Insects as a Food Resource: A Bibliographic Account in Progress''.
* (2003): Fried water beetles Cantonese style. ''American Entomologist'' 49(1): 34-37 PDF fulltext * (2000): Predaceous Diving Beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) of the Nearctic Region, with emphasis on the fauna of Canada and Alaska. NRC Research Press, Ottawa. .