Acilius abbreviatus
Aubé, 1838
Abbreviated Predaceous Diving Beetle
Acilius abbreviatus is a predaceous diving beetle in the Dytiscidae. It is found in North America, with records from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. As a member of the Acilius, it is an aquatic inhabiting freshwater environments.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Acilius abbreviatus: /æˈsɪliəs əˌbriːviˈeɪtəs/
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Habitat
Freshwater aquatic environments including ponds and slow-moving water bodies. As a diving , it inhabits submerged vegetation and bottom substrates.
Distribution
North America. Documented occurrences include Alberta and British Columbia in Canada.
Behavior
Aquatic utilizing diving capabilities to hunt underwater. Like other Dytiscidae, it likely surfaces to replenish air stored beneath the .
Ecological Role
in freshwater , contributing to regulation of aquatic .
Similar Taxa
- Acilius mediatusOverlapping North American distribution and similar size; A. abbreviatus has been distinguished by subtle differences in male genitalia and elytral punctuation patterns.
- Acilius semisulcatusShares aquatic and general body form; separation requires examination of male protarsal claws and genitalic structures.
More Details
Taxonomic Note
Authority sometimes cited as Mannerheim, 1843 in some databases, though Aubé, 1838 is the original description.