Agabus ambiguus
(Say, 1823)
Agabus ambiguus is a predaceous diving beetle in the Dytiscidae, belonging to the North American ambiguus group. are active in open water year-round, including throughout winter. The species occurs across the United States and Canada, where it inhabits depositional areas of springs, streams, and stream-fed ponds.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Agabus ambiguus: /ˈa.ɡa.bus amˈbi.ɡu.us/
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Identification
Member of the ambiguus group, distinguished from related North American Agabus by characters detailed in the taxonomic revision of the ambiguus-, tristis-, and arcticus-groups. Specific diagnostic features for separating A. ambiguus from A. strigulosus, A. erythropterus, A. austinii, and A. klamathensis would require examination of the full revision text.
Images
Habitat
Depositional areas of springs, streams, and stream-fed ponds.
Distribution
United States and Canada; broadly distributed across North America.
Seasonality
active throughout winter in open water; year-round activity pattern.
Diet
; specific prey items not documented in available sources.
Behavior
remain active in open water during winter, an unusual pattern among aquatic beetles.
Ecological Role
in freshwater aquatic .
Similar Taxa
- Agabus strigulosusBoth belong to the ambiguus group; distinguished by morphological characters in the revision key
- Agabus erythropterusBoth belong to the ambiguus group; distinguished by morphological characters in the revision key
- Agabus austiniiBoth belong to the ambiguus group; distinguished by morphological characters in the revision key
- Agabus klamathensisBoth belong to the ambiguus group; distinguished by morphological characters in the revision key