Large dytiscid at lights - Cybister explanatus

Moved

Moved from Cybister.

Det Matthew Pintar - see iNat link here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/7308263

Brady, if you disagree, pleae let me know. Thanks!

… Ken Schneider, 18 May, 2019 - 3:13pm

Moved

Moved from Predaceous Diving Beetles.

If you could post a ventral shot, I might be able to get you a species ID. Also, a colleague and I have been looking for this genus in California with very little success. Would you mind sharing an exact locality with me (via email)?

… Brady Richards, 1 August, 2017 - 11:39am

Thanks for the ID!

Sorry, I wasn't aware that a ventral shot was critical for this family. This beetle was attracted to the nighttime lights of the Dollar General Store in Alturas, along CA-299 just west of the intersection with US-395. I found it at 0440, about 80 minutes before sunrise, if that makes any difference... :)

… Ken Schneider, 1 August, 2017 - 11:49am

Oops

sorry, should have maybe emailed you. BTW, I just added my only other image of this beetle, a shot of the hind leg and posterior abdomen, probably not helpful at all... :)

… Ken Schneider, 1 August, 2017 - 11:53am

No worries

On the locality, since it's a public place. The character I was looking for is on the metaleg and is explained here: http://bugguide.net/node/view/1273700. I'm not quite sure I can see the character from the lateral shot so I thought I'd ask if you had additional photos.

My colleague and I have several known localities but have yet to catch an adult Cybister here in CA, although he has reared out larvae to adulthood. I'm from Arkansas originally, where Cybister is commonly encountered at lights and frequently caught while dipnetting. Not so here in CA...or maybe it's just me.

Thanks, Ken.

… Brady Richards, 1 August, 2017 - 12:03pm