Predacious diving beetles

Code QC099999

The most commonly encountered of the aquatic adephagan beetles. Dytiscids are more-or-less smooth and more-or-less boat-shaped. Sizes range from 3-25 mm. Antennae 11-segmented, without a club, and about the same length as the head. Tarsal segmentation 5-5-5. The long hind legs are moved together in swimming.

On the underside: The hind coxae are large but not plate-like. There are six visible sternites the first of which is divided by the hind coxae. There is no median keel, and no transverse suture on the metasternum.

Dytiscidae (suborder Adephaga) live in a variety of aquatic habitats but are most common in the littoral zone at the edges of lakes and ponds. Many species are crepuscular and attracted to lights. Around 185 species and 36 genera are recognised from Australia, occurring in all states, with greatest diversity occurring in the south-east.

Reference:

Lawrence, J.F. and Britton, E.B. (1991) Coleoptera. pp. 543-683. In: CSIRO, Insects of Australia. Volume 2. Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Victoria.