Subfamily Dytiscinae - Dysticinae

Classification · Size · Identification

Big Beetle found dead on our deck - Dytiscus harrisii

Predaceous Diving Beetle - Graphoderus occidentalis - female

Dytiscidae -? - Thermonectus nigrofasciatus - male

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Adephaga (Ground and Water Beetles)

Family Dytiscidae (Predaceous Diving Beetles)

Subfamily Dytiscinae (Dysticinae)

Size

8-40 mm (Nearctic species)

Identification

Adults:

generally medium to very large sized beetles

Eyes unnotched at antennal bases

there is a visible scutellum

males with protarsal segments 1-3 modified to form a large, broad oval palette, often with variable number of suckers on the ventral surface-these are used to grasp the female during mating.

Larvae:

Anterior margin of the clypeus (frontoclypeus) is rounded

anteroventral margin of femur and tibia with a fringe of swimming hairs

both abdominal segments 7 and 8 fringed laterally with swimming hairs

generally large sized

Contributed by Tim Loh on 8 February, 2009 - 1:12am
Last updated 19 March, 2009 - 5:54pm

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