Family: Dytiscidae (water beetles)
Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra > Arthopoda > Mandibulata > Atelocerata > Panhexapoda > Hexapoda
> Insecta
(insects) > Dicondyla > Pterygota > Metapterygota > Neoptera > Eumetabola >
Holometabola > Coleoptera (beetles)
> Suborder: Adephaga
Aquatic predatory beetles, ranging widely in size (1 - 45 mm
long). The colour varies from pale yellow/brown to brown. The mouthparts are
strongly formed for dismembering prey while the mouthparts of the larvae
pierce and suck. The hind legs are flattened and paddle-like and adapted
for swimming. There are about 40 genera and 250 species of dytiscids in southern Africa.
Adults and larvae feed mainly on aquatic insects and crustaceans. They
are able to remain under water for fairly long periods by keeping a supply of
air in the subelytral cavity (i.e. beneath the elytra) and occasional
replenishment of the air supply is needed for both respiration and buoyancy.
They feed on aquatic insects and crustaceans and occur in both fresh, stagnant
or running water.
Eggs are laid under various submerged objects such as
vegetation or stones but in some species, eggs are laid within plant tissue. Larvae
pass through three instars before pupating on land near the water.
Publications
-
Biström, O. 1979. A revision of the genus Derovatellus
Sharp (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae) in Africa. Acta Entomologica Fennica
35: 1-28.
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Biström, O. 1982. A revision of the genus Hyphydrus
Illiger (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae). Acta Zoologica Fennica 165:
1-121.
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Biström, O. 1983. Revision of the genera Yola
Des Gozis and Yolina Guignot (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae). Acta
Zoologica Fennica 176: 1-67.
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Omer-Cooper, J. 1965. Coleoptera. Dytiscidae. In
Hanström, B., Brinck, P. & Rudebeck, G. (eds) South
African Animal Life 11: 59-214. Almqvist Wiksell, Stockholm.
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Omer-Cooper, J. 1974. The species of Bidessus
Sharp (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) of Africa south of the Sahara including
Madagascar. Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa 37(2):
305-341.
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Omer-Cooper, J. 1979. The species of Bidessus
Sharp (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) of Africa south of the Sahara including
Madagascar. Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa 42(2):
197-216.
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