Cybistrinae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Cybistrinae: /saɪˈbɪstrɪniː/

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Summary

Cybistrinae is a subfamily of predaceous diving beetles with diverse genera and species primarily found in aquatic habitats, playing an important role in ecosystem food webs.

Physical Characteristics

Predaceous diving beetles exhibit a streamlined body shape, adapted for swimming with long legs that have fringed hairs.

Identification Tips

Look for elongated bodies and specialized swimming legs, usually found in aquatic environments.

Habitat

Predominantly aquatic environments including ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams.

Distribution

North America has 4 known species in 2 genera; globally, the subfamily contains over 130 species across 12 genera.

Diet

Cybistrinae are predatory, feeding on other insects and aquatic organisms.

Life Cycle

Eggs are laid in water; the larvae, which are also aquatic, undergo several molts before pupating and emerging as adults.

Reproduction

Adults mate in water, with females laying eggs on submerged vegetation or directly in the water.

Predators

Predators include larger aquatic insects, fish, and amphibians.

Ecosystem Role

As predators, they play a crucial role in controlling the population of other aquatic insects.

Collecting Methods

• Netting adults from the water surface
• Using light traps at night
• Searching aquatic vegetation for larvae

Preservation Methods

• Ethanol preservation for specimens
• Pinning adults for morphological studies

Evolution

Cybistrinae evolved as a lineage of diving beetles adapted to aquatic life, sharing common ancestry with Dytiscidae.

Similar Taxa

• Dytiscinae (another subfamily of diving beetles)
• Hydroporinae

Misconceptions

Some may confuse them with similar-looking beetles that are not predaceous diving beetles.

Tags

• beetles
• Cybistrinae
• Dytiscidae
• predatory beetles
• aquatic insects