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Predaceous diving beetle (Ahrens, 1811)[]

Arthropods (Arthropoda)---Insects (Insecta)---Beetles (Coleoptera)----Adepaga----Predaceous diving beetles (Dytiscidae)----Dystiscinae----Dytiscus----D. circumcinctus

Predaceous diving beetle1

8th May, 2008. Adult female Dytiscus circumcinctus near the Edmonton river valley, this specimen crashed into the wall and was crawling over the gravel.

Circumcinctus side view

8th May, 2008.

Circumcinctus dorsal view

8th May, 2008.


This species can be identified from other Dytiscus sp. by the ring of yellow along inner margin of eyes and the pronotal margins and elytra edges being bordered with yellow. Adults can occasionally be attracted to lights at night along with other flighted aquatic insects. Specimens overwinter as adults in large bodies of water.

P diving beetle

8th May, 2008

 They can give a nasty bite if handled badly (pick it up on its back right and it can't bite you).


Male & Female[]

Females have many grooves along elytra, males have a smooth shell.

Feeding[]

Aquatic insects and larvae; small fish; insects drowned on the surface.

Size[]

Adults about 29-33mm body length.

Links[]

University of Alberta

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