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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Adephaga » Predaceous Diving Beetles (Dytiscidae) » Copelatinae » Copelatus

Genus Copelatus

Predaceous Diving Beetle - Copelatus Copelatus chevrolati Aubé - Copelatus chevrolati Copelatus ? - Copelatus chevrolati 1011C43 - Copelatus debilis Copelatus chevrolati? Male? - Copelatus chevrolati - male Copelatus chevrolati? - Copelatus distinctus Predaceous Diving Beetle - Copelatus glyphicus Pennsylvania Beetle for ID - Copelatus
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Adephaga
Family Dytiscidae (Predaceous Diving Beetles)
Subfamily Copelatinae
Genus Copelatus
Explanation of Names
Copelatus Erichson 1832
Numbers
8 spp. in our area(1), >460 total(2)
Identification
Adult: each elytron with 5-10 longitudinal striae(2)(3)
Range
pantropical genus feebly represented in temperate zones; in our area, more diverse in the south (6 spp. in FL)(2)
Habitat
pioneer species, often found in temporary pools/puddles and in water bodies with accumulated organic debris (e.g. hollow trees)(2)
Food
larvae and adults feed on copepods, ostracods, springtails, and aquatic fly larvae
Remarks
In Ecuador, many species are found in fallen water-filled flower bracts of the palm tree Iriartea deltoidea. Large bracts may hold up to 5 litres of water, and contain more than 100 beetles.
Works Cited
1.American Beetles, Volume I: Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia
Arnett, R.H., Jr., and M. C. Thomas. (eds.). 2000. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL.
2.The Water Beetles of Florida
Epler J.H. 2010. Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Tallahassee. 414 pp.
3.The Nearctic species of Copelatus Erichson (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)
Frank N. Young. 1963. Quarterly Journal of the Florida Academy of Sciences, Vol. 26, pp. 56-77.
Contributed by Robin McLeod on 10 January, 2007 - 7:19am
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn, v belov, Edward Ruden
Last updated 27 April, 2023 - 6:02pm

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