Dytiscidae
Guides
Aciliini
Aciliini is a tribe of predaceous diving beetles within the family Dytiscidae, containing approximately 7 genera and at least 69-70 extant species. The tribe includes well-known genera such as Acilius, Graphoderus, and Thermonectus, which are medium to large-sized beetles found in freshwater habitats. Members are recognized as active predators in aquatic ecosystems.
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.
Agabetes acuductus
Agabetes acuductus is a small predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It inhabits shaded, vegetated wetlands in North America. The species is associated with wooded pools and cattail ponds, often found in leaf litter. It is one of few species in the genus Agabetes.
Agabinus
Agabinus is a genus of predaceous diving beetles (family Dytiscidae) established by Crotch in 1873. The genus contains two described species: Agabinus glabrellus and Agabinus sculpturellus. Members are found in North America and are classified within the subfamily Agabinae.
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 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 anthracinus
Agabus anthracinus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is widespread across northern North America, ranging from the northern United States through Canada to Alaska. Records also indicate presence in Europe and Northern Asia. The species is accepted and documented in major taxonomic databases, though detailed biological studies remain limited.
Agabus arcticus
Agabus arcticus is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae with a Holarctic distribution, occurring in North America and the Palearctic region. It belongs to the arcticus-group of Agabus species, which is characterized by specific morphological and ecological traits adapted to northern environments. The species has three described larval stages and is known from reared material collected in northern Sweden.
Agabus confinis
predaceous diving beetle
Agabus confinis is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, belonging to the confinis-group within the subgenus Acatodes. The species has a Holarctic distribution, occurring in North America and the Palearctic region. Larval stages have been described from reared material in northern Sweden, with morphological characters enabling separation from other European Agabus species. It is one of approximately 36 species in the confinis-group, which has been subject to taxonomic revision in North America.
Agabus crassipes
Agabus crassipes is a diving beetle species in the family Dytiscidae, described by Fall in 1922. It is native to North America, with records from western Canada including Alberta and British Columbia. As a member of the genus Agabus, it is an aquatic predator inhabiting freshwater environments. The specific epithet 'crassipes' refers to its stout or thick legs.
Agabus discolor
Agabus discolor is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Harris in 1828. The species has a broad geographic distribution spanning North America and the Palearctic region. As a member of the predaceous diving beetles, it is an aquatic predator inhabiting freshwater environments. The species was originally described under the genus Colymbetes before being transferred to Agabus.
Agabus falli
Agabus falli is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is known from North America, with records from Alberta and Manitoba in Canada. As a member of the genus Agabus, it is an aquatic predator inhabiting freshwater environments. The species was described by Zimmermann in 1934.
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 leptapsis
Agabus leptapsis is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, first described by LeConte in 1878. Originally described as Gaurodytes leptapsis, it is now placed in the genus Agabus. The species is known from western North America, with confirmed records from Alberta and British Columbia, Canada.
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 obliteratus
Agabus obliteratus is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, described by LeConte in 1859. The species occurs in North America. A subspecies, A. obliteratus nectris Leech, 1942, has been recognized. Like other members of the genus, it is aquatic and likely occupies freshwater habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in published sources.
Agabus punctatus
Agabus punctatus is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, first described by F.E. Melsheimer in 1844. The species is known from North America, though specific details regarding its ecology, habitat preferences, and life history remain poorly documented in the available literature. As a member of the genus Agabus, it is presumed to be aquatic in the adult stage, though this has not been explicitly confirmed for this particular species.
Agabus semipunctatus
Agabus semipunctatus is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. The species was originally described as Colymbetes semipunctatus by Kirby in 1837 before being transferred to the genus Agabus. It is recorded from North America, with specific distribution records from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. As a member of the predaceous diving beetles, it is adapted to aquatic habitats.
Agabus strigulosus
Agabus strigulosus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It was first described by Crotch in 1873 under the basionym Gaurodytes strigulosus. The species is found in North America, with records from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada.
Agabus triton
Agabus triton is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, described by Fall in 1922. The species is currently treated as a synonym of Agabus amnicola. It has been recorded from Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. As a member of the Dytiscidae, it belongs to a family of aquatic beetles adapted to life 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.
Bidessini
Bidessini is a tribe of predaceous diving beetles within the family Dytiscidae, comprising at least 40 genera and over 630 described species. Members are small to minute aquatic beetles found across diverse freshwater habitats worldwide, with notable radiations in Australia, South America, and Madagascar. The tribe includes both surface-dwelling (epigean) and subterranean (stygobitic) species, with several genera exhibiting convergent adaptations to groundwater environments.
Bidessonotus
Bidessonotus is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Régimbart in 1895. The genus comprises approximately 30 described species distributed primarily in the Americas, with records from North America through Central America to northern South America. These small diving beetles inhabit freshwater environments and are members of the tribe Bidessini within the subfamily Hydroporinae. The genus was revised taxonomically by Young in 1990, who described numerous new species.
Brachyvatus
Brachyvatus is a genus of diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Zimmermann in 1919. It belongs to the tribe Bidessini within the subfamily Hydroporinae. The genus contains at least four described species distributed in South America, with records primarily from Colombia. As with other dytiscids, members are aquatic predators.
Celina
Celina is a genus of small predaceous diving beetles (family Dytiscidae) first described by Aubé in 1837. These aquatic beetles belong to the subfamily Hydroporinae and tribe Methlini. The genus occurs primarily in the Neotropical region, with records from northern South America including Colombia. Members of this genus are aquatic predators inhabiting freshwater environments.
Celina angustata
Celina angustata is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. The species was described by Aubé in 1838. It occurs across North and South America.
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.
Celina hubbelli
Hubbell's Predaceous Diving Beetle
Celina hubbelli is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, described by Young in 1979. It is found in North America, with confirmed records from Ontario and Québec in Canada. The species is named in honor of the entomologist. As a member of the genus Celina, it belongs to the tribe Methlini within the subfamily Hydroporinae.
Celina imitatrix
Celina imitatrix is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, described by Young in 1979. The species is known from North America and the Neotropics. Like other members of the genus Celina, it is aquatic and predatory. Very few specific observations or studies have been published for this particular species.
Celina occidentalis
Celina occidentalis is a predaceous diving beetle described by Young in 1979. It belongs to the family Dytiscidae, a group of aquatic beetles adapted for underwater predation. The species is known from North America and the Neotropics, though specific details about its biology remain limited in published literature.
Celina slossoni
Celina slossoni is a species of predaceous diving beetle (family Dytiscidae) found in North America. As a member of the subfamily Hydroporinae and tribe Methlini, it belongs to one of the most diverse lineages of diving beetles. Very little specific information is documented about this species beyond its taxonomic description.
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.
Clemnius
Clemnius is a genus of diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, established in 2017 to accommodate species previously placed in related genera. The genus belongs to the tribe Hygrotini within the subfamily Hydroporinae. Species in this genus are small to medium-sized diving beetles adapted to aquatic habitats. The genus has been documented from Southeast Asia based on collection records.
Colymbetes dolabratus
Colymbetes dolabratus is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It has a Holarctic distribution, occurring in both North America and the Palearctic region. The species belongs to the genus Colymbetes, a group of medium-sized diving beetles adapted to aquatic habitats.
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.
Copelatinae
copelatine diving beetles
Copelatinae is a subfamily of predaceous diving beetles (Dytiscidae) comprising seven genera: Agaporomorphus, Aglymbus, Copelatus, Exocelina, Lacconectus, Liopterus, and Madaglymbus. The genus Copelatus is the largest with approximately 470 described species worldwide, showing greatest diversity in tropical South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Members are predominantly aquatic, though some species have colonized highly ephemeral habitats including forest floor depressions. The subfamily exhibits remarkable morphological diversity and includes phylogenetically isolated lineages such as the South African genus Capelatus.
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.
Cybister
Giant Diving Beetles
Cybister is a genus of large predaceous diving beetles (Dytiscidae) distributed across all continents except Antarctica. Adults range up to 43 mm in length, with some species among the largest diving beetles. The genus comprises approximately 98 species organized into four subgenera. Both adults and larvae are aquatic predators, with larvae of some species known to prey on vertebrates including tadpoles and small fish.
Derovatellus floridanus
Derovatellus floridanus is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Fall in 1932. It belongs to the tribe Vatellini, a group of small to medium-sized diving beetles. The species is known from North America, with distribution records extending to the Caribbean, Middle America, and South America. As a member of the subfamily Hydroporinae, it is adapted to aquatic habitats.
Desmopachria
Desmopachria is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, tribe Hyphydrini. The genus contains over 80 described species distributed primarily in the Americas, from the United States through Central America to South America, with particular diversity in the Amazon basin and Caribbean islands. Species are associated with aquatic habitats including river floodplains and high-altitude forest streams. Multiple new species have been described in recent decades, indicating ongoing taxonomic work and likely remaining undescribed diversity.
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.
Desmopachria dispersa
Desmopachria dispersa is a small predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae, first described by Crotch in 1873. The species is distributed across North America and the Neotropics. As a member of the genus Desmopachria, it belongs to a group of minute dytiscids often referred to as 'pygmy diving beetles' due to their diminutive size. The specific epithet 'dispersa' suggests a connection to dispersal, though the original etymology has not been confirmed in available sources.
Dytiscinae
predaceous diving beetles
Dytiscinae is a subfamily of predaceous diving beetles (family Dytiscidae) containing at least 20 genera and approximately 380 described species. Members are medium to large diving beetles found in aquatic habitats across most continents. The subfamily includes well-known genera such as Dytiscus, Cybister, Acilius, and Hydaticus. Species are predatory in both adult and larval stages, with larvae often called 'water tigers' for their voracious feeding habits.
Dytiscus habilis
Dytiscus habilis is a predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is the only species in the genus Dytiscus known to occur in the Neotropics, with its range extending from the southwestern United States through Mexico to Guatemala. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1830.
Dytiscus hybridus
Hybrid Predaceous Diving Beetle
Dytiscus hybridus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is found in North America, with confirmed records from Alberta and Manitoba in Canada. As a member of the genus Dytiscus, it is an aquatic predator, though specific details of its biology remain poorly documented in published sources.
Eretes
Eretes is a genus of predaceous diving beetles (family Dytiscidae) comprising four recognized species. The genus exhibits considerable morphological variation in size and coloration among and within species, necessitating reliance on male genitalia morphology for species delimitation. Species are distributed across the Afrotropical, Palearctic, and Asian regions.