Diving-beetle
Guides
Acilius athabascae
Athabascan Predaceous Diving Beetle
Acilius athabascae is a species of predaceous diving beetle described by Larson in 1975. It belongs to the genus Acilius, a group of large diving beetles known for their streamlined bodies and predatory habits in aquatic environments. The species is found in North America, with records from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada.
Agabetes
Agabetes is a small genus of diving beetles (family Dytiscidae) in the subfamily Laccophilinae. The genus contains two described species: Agabetes acuductus, described from North America in 1828, and Agabetes svetlanae, described from the Palearctic region in 1989. The genus is the type genus of the tribe Agabetini. Members are aquatic beetles inhabiting freshwater environments.
Agabus
Agabus is a large genus of predatory aquatic beetles in the family Dytiscidae, established by William Elford Leach in 1817. Adults range from 5 to 14 mm in length. The genus has a primarily Holarctic distribution, with limited representation in the Afrotropic and Neotropic realms. Some species are of conservation concern, with A. clypealis, A. discicollis, and A. hozgargantae listed as endangered by the IUCN.
Agabus ajax
Agabus ajax is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. The species was described by Fall in 1922. It is known from North America, with records from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. As a member of Agabus, it is an aquatic predator.
Agabus ambiguus
Agabus ambiguus is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, belonging to the North American endemic ambiguus species group. Adults 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.
Agabus antennatus
Agabus antennatus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Leech in 1939. It is found in North America, with records from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. As a member of the genus Agabus, it is an aquatic predator inhabiting freshwater environments.
Agabus clavicornis
Agabus clavicornis is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is distributed across the Holarctic region, occurring in both North America and the Palearctic. The species was described by Sharp in 1882. Like other members of the genus Agabus, it is an aquatic predator.
Agabus cordatus
Agabus cordatus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, originally described by LeConte in 1853. It is currently treated as a synonym of Ilybiosoma cordatum, a genus distinguished from Agabus by subtle morphological features of the male genitalia and body proportions. Like other members of the subfamily Agabinae, it is an aquatic beetle inhabiting freshwater systems. Records indicate presence in North America.
Agabus fuscipennis
Agabus fuscipennis is a diving beetle species in the family Dytiscidae, belonging to the fuscipennis-group as defined by Larson (1989). It is characterized by a holarctic distribution, occurring across both the Palearctic and Nearctic regions. In North America, it is transcontinental in boreal regions. In Europe, it has a restricted distribution, recorded from Austria, Belarus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Kaliningrad, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sardinia, Sicily, Slovakia, Sweden, and Ukraine.
Agabus lutosus
River beetle
Agabus lutosus is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, native to the Pacific coast of North America. It belongs to the lutosus-group of Agabus species, which are restricted to the Cordilleran and Great Plains regions of temperate western North America. The species hybridizes with A. griseipennis in the Pacific Northwest region.
Agabus punctulatus
Agabus punctulatus is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It inhabits freshwater environments and is distributed across North America, with records from western Canada including Alberta and British Columbia. As a member of the genus Agabus, it is part of a diverse group of aquatic beetles adapted to life in ponds, lakes, and slow-moving waters.
Agabus taeniolatus
Agabus taeniolatus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It belongs to the large genus Agabus, which contains numerous aquatic beetle species found primarily in the Holarctic region. This species is documented from North America and shares the general ecological characteristics of the genus as an aquatic predator in freshwater habitats.
Agabus verisimilis
Agabus verisimilis is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It belongs to the large genus Agabus, which contains numerous similar-looking species primarily associated with freshwater habitats. The specific epithet "verisimilis" (meaning "very similar") likely refers to its close resemblance to other Agabus species. Information on this species is limited in published literature.
Blethisa
Blethisa is a genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, subfamily Elaphrinae. It comprises approximately nine extant species distributed across the Holarctic region, plus one fossil species from the Pleistocene. Members of this genus are associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats, with documented diving behavior in at least one species.
Blethisa multipunctata
multidotted ground beetle, Dimpled Marsh Beetle
Blethisa multipunctata is a ground beetle species found along freshwater margins in Europe and parts of North America. It exhibits a rare amphibious lifestyle among carabid beetles, 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.
Celina grossula
Celina grossula is a species of predaceous diving beetle (family Dytiscidae) described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1863. It belongs to the subfamily Hydroporinae and tribe Methlini. The genus Celina comprises small to minute diving beetles that inhabit aquatic environments. Information regarding the specific biology and ecology of C. grossula remains limited in the available literature.
Clarkhydrus roffii
Clarkhydrus roffii is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, subfamily Hydroporinae. It belongs to a genus of small diving beetles distributed in the Western Hemisphere. The species was described by Clark in 1862 and is known from limited collection records in North and Middle America. Like other members of Dytiscidae, it is an aquatic predator, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Clarkhydrus spectabilis
Clarkhydrus spectabilis is a diving beetle species in the family Dytiscidae, described by Zimmerman in 1982. The genus Clarkhydrus belongs to the tribe Hydroporini within the subfamily Hydroporinae. As a member of the Dytiscidae family, this species is adapted to aquatic habitats. The specific epithet 'spectabilis' suggests notable or showy characteristics, though detailed biological information remains limited in available sources.
Colymbetes longulus
Colymbetes longulus is a species of diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, first described by LeConte in 1862. It belongs to the subfamily Colymbetinae, a group of predatory aquatic beetles. The genus Colymbetes is among the more diverse genera of diving beetles, with species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. Like other members of its family, this species is adapted to life in freshwater habitats.
Colymbetes sculptilis
Sculptured Predaceous Diving Beetle
Colymbetes sculptilis is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is known from North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia) and the United States. As a member of the genus Colymbetes, it is adapted to aquatic habitats and exhibits the typical diving beetle morphology of streamlined body form and hind legs modified for swimming. The specific epithet 'sculptilis' refers to the sculptured or carved appearance of the body surface.
Comaldessus
Comaldessus is a genus of diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, established in 1995. The genus is monotypic, containing only the species Comaldessus stygius. It belongs to the tribe Bidessini within the subfamily Hydroporinae, a group of small predatory aquatic beetles.
Copelatus chevrolati
Chevrolat's Dytiscid
Copelatus chevrolati is a small diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, subfamily Copelatinae. Adults measure 5.3–6.7 mm in length and 2.6–3.1 mm in width, with coloration ranging from pale to dark reddish brown. The species is distinguished from other North American Copelatus by having 8 or 9 discal striae on the elytra. Two subspecies are recognized: the eastern C. c. chevrolati and the western C. c. renovatus. The species has been recorded across the southern and central United States and was recently documented from Cuba, representing a significant range extension.
Copelatus distinctus
Copelatus distinctus is a species of diving beetle described by Aubé in 1838. It belongs to the genus Copelatus within the subfamily Copelatinae of the family Dytiscidae. The species is recorded from Middle America based on available distribution data. Like other members of Copelatus, it is an aquatic predator inhabiting freshwater environments.
Copelatus glyphicus
Copelatus glyphicus is a small diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, described by Thomas Say in 1823. Adults measure 4.2–4.6 mm in length and 2.1–2.5 mm in width. The species is widely distributed across eastern North America.
Desmopachria circularis
Desmopachria circularis is a species of diving beetle described by Sharp in 1882. It belongs to the family Dytiscidae, a group of aquatic beetles adapted for underwater life. The genus Desmopachria is characterized by small body size and is distributed primarily in the Americas. This species is recorded from Middle America, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented.
Desmopachria convexa
Desmopachria convexa is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Aubé in 1838. It belongs to the subfamily Hydroporinae and tribe Hyphydrini. The species has a broad distribution spanning North and South America. Like other members of the genus Desmopachria, it is adapted to aquatic habitats and exhibits the compact, convex body form characteristic of this group of small diving beetles.
Deuteronectes picturatus
Deuteronectes picturatus is a species of diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Horn in 1883. It belongs to the subfamily Hydroporinae, a diverse group of small to medium-sized predaceous diving beetles. The species is native to North America. Like other members of Dytiscidae, it is an aquatic beetle adapted to life in freshwater environments.
Dytiscus fasciventris
Understriped Diving Beetle
Dytiscus fasciventris, the Understriped Diving Beetle, is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. The species is found in North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia) and the United States. Like other members of the genus Dytiscus, it is an aquatic predator inhabiting freshwater environments.
Dytiscus marginicollis
giant green water beetle
Dytiscus marginicollis, commonly known as the giant green water beetle, is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is among the larger species in the genus Dytiscus and is distributed across North America. Like other members of its genus, it is an aquatic predator inhabiting freshwater systems.
Dytiscus verticalis
Vertical Diving Beetle
Dytiscus verticalis is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. As a member of the genus Dytiscus, it is among the largest diving beetles in North America. The species inhabits freshwater aquatic systems and, like other members of its genus, is an active predator in both larval and adult stages. The specific epithet 'verticalis' refers to a characteristic morphological feature of this species.
Graphoderus
Graphoderus is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, comprising 12 extant species and 2 extinct species known from fossils. The genus is native to the Holarctic region, with species distributed across Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. Several species are of conservation concern, particularly G. bilineatus, which is listed in Annexes II and IV of the European Habitats Directive and has experienced significant population declines across its range.
Graphoderus perplexus
predacious diving beetle
Graphoderus perplexus is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, described by Sharp in 1882. It is distributed across the Holarctic region, occurring in both North America and the Palearctic. Like other members of its genus, it is an aquatic predator inhabiting freshwater environments. The species is part of the tribe Aciliini, which includes other medium to large diving beetles.
Haideoporus texanus
Edwards Aquifer Diving Beetle
Haideoporus texanus is a stygobiontic diving beetle endemic to the Edwards Aquifer of Texas. It is a subterranean aquatic species adapted to life in groundwater systems, with larvae possessing characteristic morphological features including a nasale and absence of primary pores MXd and LAc. The species was described in 1976 and represents an independently evolved lineage within the subfamily Hydroporinae.
Heterosternuta cocheconis
Heterosternuta cocheconis is a small predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. The species was described by Fall in 1917. It has been recorded in eastern North America, including the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Québec. As a member of the subfamily Hydroporinae, it inhabits aquatic environments.
Heterosternuta wickhami
Hydroporus diving beetle
Heterosternuta wickhami is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. The species was originally described as Hydroporus wickhami by Zaitzev in 1908. It has been documented in wadeable streams and is known from North America, with first records for Missouri reported from aquatic macroinvertebrate community samples collected between 2002 and 2018.
Hornectes quadrimaculatus
Hornectes quadrimaculatus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, subfamily Hydroporinae. Originally described as Hydroporus quadrimaculatus by Horn in 1883, it was later transferred to the genus Hornectes. The species epithet "quadrimaculatus" (four-spotted) refers to its characteristic elytral maculation. It belongs to the tribe Hydroporini within the speciose subfamily Hydroporinae, which contains many small to medium-sized diving beetles.
Hydaticus
Hydaticus is a genus of predatory diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, comprising approximately 150 described species and 12 subspecies arranged in two subgenera: Hydaticus and Prodaticus. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution spanning the Palearctic, Afrotropical, Nearctic, and Oriental regions. Members are aquatic predators found in freshwater habitats including streams, pools, and lentic environments.
Hydaticus bimarginatus
Hydaticus bimarginatus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, occurring across North America. The species is moderately well-documented with over 1,000 observations on iNaturalist, indicating established presence in aquatic habitats. As a member of Hydaticus, it is associated with lentic and lotic freshwater systems where it functions as an active predator.
Hydaticus rimosus
Hydaticus rimosus is a diving beetle species in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Aubé in 1838. The species belongs to the genus Hydaticus, a group of predatory aquatic beetles commonly found in freshwater habitats. It occurs in the Caribbean and Middle America based on documented distribution records.
Hydrocolus
Hydrocolus is a genus of small predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, subfamily Hydroporinae. The genus was erected in 2000 to accommodate several species previously placed in related genera, particularly Hydroporus. It contains approximately twelve described species distributed primarily in North America, with some species known from northern Europe. Species are associated with lentic and lotic freshwater habitats.
Hydrocolus deflatus
Hydrocolus deflatus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Fall in 1923. It belongs to the genus Hydrocolus, a group of small to medium-sized diving beetles within the subfamily Hydroporinae. The species is documented from North America. Like other members of Dytiscidae, it is adapted to aquatic habitats.
Hydrocolus paugus
Hydrocolus paugus is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Fall in 1923. Originally described as Hydroporus paugus, it was later transferred to the genus Hydrocolus. It is a member of the subfamily Hydroporinae, which contains small to medium-sized diving beetles. The species is known from limited collection records in western North America.
Hydrocolus stagnalis
Hydroporus Diving Beetle
Hydrocolus stagnalis is a small predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, native to North America. Formerly classified under Hydroporus, it was reassigned to the genus Hydrocolus. The species is documented from western Canada, including Alberta and British Columbia. As a member of the Hydroporinae subfamily, it inhabits freshwater environments.
Hydroporus columbianus
Hydroporus columbianus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Fall in 1923. It belongs to the subfamily Hydroporinae, a diverse group of small to medium-sized diving beetles. The species is known from western North America, with records from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. Like other members of the genus, it is an aquatic predator.
Hydroporus lapponum
Hydroporus lapponum is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. The species has a broad Holarctic distribution, occurring across North America and the Palearctic region. It belongs to the genus Hydroporus, a large and diverse group of small diving beetles. The species was first described by Gyllenhal in 1808.
Hydroporus occidentalis
Hydroporus occidentalis is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, described by Sharp in 1882. The species is known from North America, with records from the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. As a member of the genus Hydroporus, it is a small to medium-sized diving beetle adapted to aquatic habitats.
Hydroporus tenebrosus
Hydroporus tenebrosus is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, first described by LeConte in 1850. It belongs to the genus Hydroporus, a diverse group of small to medium-sized diving beetles. The species has been used as a morphological reference in taxonomic revisions due to its extreme similarity to H. subpubescens. As a member of the Dytiscidae, it is presumed to be an aquatic predator, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in the accessible literature.
Hydrotrupes
Hydrotrupes is a genus of diving beetles (Dytiscidae: Agabinae) established by Sharp in 1882. The genus contains three species: two extant (H. chinensis in eastern China and H. palpalis in western North America) and one fossil (H. prometheus from Eocene Baltic amber). The fossil record establishes Hydrotrupes as at least 40 million years old and demonstrates remarkable morphological conservation over this timespan. The current disjunct distribution of living species is interpreted as a relict of a formerly widespread distribution across northern continents during the Eocene.
Hydrovatus
Hydrovatus is a genus of diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, subfamily Hydroporinae, and tribe Hydrovatini. The genus comprises approximately 214 species globally, with documented presence across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Members are aquatic beetles inhabiting lentic and slow-moving lotic freshwater environments. The genus was established by Motschulsky in 1853.
Hydrovatus hornii
Hydrovatus hornii is a species of predaceous diving beetle (family Dytiscidae) described by George Henry Crotch in 1873. It belongs to the subfamily Hydroporinae and tribe Hydrovatini, a group of small to medium-sized diving beetles adapted to aquatic habitats. The species is known from the Caribbean, Middle America, and North America, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in published literature.