Explanation of Names
Bidessonotus Régimbart 1895
Numbers
the largest bidessine genus in the New World (37 spp. total, 4 in our area)
(1)Identification
easily diagnosed by the pentamerous pro- & mesotarsi (in other Bidessini, tarsomere IV small and concealed in the lobes of III); strongly curved mesotibiae in males and a distinctly concave venter in males
(1)
sexually dimorphic: female stouter than male and has preapical "tooth" on outer margin of each elytron
In B. longovalis, elytral plicae are distinctly longer than pronotal plicae.
In other species, females are only identifiable by association with males, and male id requires dissection
Range
se Canada & e US to Argentina, most diverse in northern S America; in our area,
B. inconspicuus widespread in the east and 3 spp. restricted to Gulf states + GA
(1)Habitat
ditches, ponds, streams, woodland pools
Contributed by
Robin McLeod on 28 December, 2006 - 10:06pm
Additional contributions by
v belovLast updated 27 April, 2023 - 2:57pm