Blethisa multipunctata
(Linnaeus, 1758)
multidotted ground beetle, Dimpled Marsh Beetle
Blethisa multipunctata is a found along freshwater margins in Europe and parts of North America. It exhibits a rare amphibious lifestyle among , hunting both on land and underwater for extended periods. The species has been observed diving voluntarily and remaining submerged for up to 97 minutes without surfacing for air.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Blethisa multipunctata: /ˈblɛθɪsa ˌmʌltɪˈpʌŋkˌteɪtə/
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Images
Habitat
Stream, river, and lake margins; semi-aquatic shorelines with access to water
Distribution
Europe; Alaska, Canada (North America); recorded in Austria, Belarus, Belgium
Behavior
Enters water spontaneously and dives for ; can remain submerged for over 1 hour without renewing respiratory air; uses trapped air as a rather than storing oxygen; periodically surfaces briefly during extended dives before descending again; shows behavioral rather than morphological or physiological for amphibious life