The Haliplidae are a family of water beetles that swim using an alternating motion of the legs. They are therefore clumsy in water, and prefer to get around by crawling. The family consists of about 200 species in 5 genera, distributed wherever there is freshwater habitat; it is the only extant member of superfamily Haliploidea. They are also known as crawling water beetles or haliplids.
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek dytikos (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur in virtually any freshwater habitat around the world, but a few species live among leaf litter. The adults of most are between 1 and 2.5 cm (0.4–1.0 in) long, though much variation is seen between species. The European Dytiscus latissimus and Brazilian Megadytes ducalis are the largest, reaching up to 4.5 cm (1.8 in) and 4.75 cm (1.9 in) respectively. In contrast, the smallest is likely the Australian Limbodessus atypicali of subterranean waters, which only is about 0.9 mm (0.035 in) long. Most are dark brown, blackish, or dark olive in color with golden highlights in some subfamilies. The larvae are commonly known as water tigers due to their voracious appetite. They have short, but sharp mandibles and immediately upon biting, they deliver digestive enzymes into prey to suck their liquefied remains. The family includes more than 4,000 described species in numerous genera.
Acilius is a holarctic genus of diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae and typically has a life cycle that is univoltine.
Agabus is a large genus of predatory aquatic beetles in the family Dytiscidae, proposed in 1817 by William Elford Leach and named after Agabus, an early follower of Christianity. The adult beetles are moderate-sized, 5 to 14 mm long. The genus is primarily Holarctic in distribution, with only a few species known from the Afrotropical and Neotropical realms. Three species of Agabus, namely A. clypealis, A. discicollis and A. hozgargantae are endangered according to the IUCN Red List. The division into subgenera is not widely accepted. However, a number of species groups are recognized after the works of David J. Larson and Anders N. Nilsson. The genus is probably polyphyletic or paraphyletic. In a recent study of mitochondrial DNA, Agabus was found paraphyletic with respect to several of the species groups of Platambus, a closely related genus in the tribe Agabini. Lately the taxonomy of the genus has been revised, and some groups of species were transferred from Agabussensu stricto to other genera in the tribe Agabini.
Thermonectus is a genus of beetle in family Dytiscidae. This genus is native to the New World, and mainly from warm temperate to tropical in distribution, but one species, T. basillaris occurs as far north as southern Ontario, Canada. They inhabit a wide range of freshwater habitats with static water and are often common. They are generally about 0.8–1.5 cm (0.3–0.6 in) long and a few species from desert pools in North America have a distinct yellow-spotted pattern on a black background.
Acilius sulcatus is a species of water beetle in family Dytiscidae.It is fairly large, with color variation shown throughout its range. Typically it is yellow and black.
Hydrodytes is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are at least three described species in Hydrodytes. It is found in North America and the Neotropics.
Calicovatellus is an extinct genus of dytiscid beetle in the subfamily Hydroporinae. As of 2018, one species is recognized, Calicovatellus petrodytes. It was found in the Barstow Formation in southern California and dates to the Miocene.
Copelatus marginipennis is a species of diving beetle. It is part of the genus Copelatus in the subfamily Copelatinae of the family Dytiscidae. It was described by Laporte in 1835.
Copelatus celinoides is a species of diving beetle. It is part of the genus Copelatus in the subfamily Copelatinae of the family Dytiscidae. It was described by Guignot in 1952.
Copelatus chevrolati is a species of diving beetle. It is part of the genus Copelatus in the subfamily Copelatinae of the family Dytiscidae. It was described by Aubé in 1838. There are two described subspecies: C. c. chevrolati and C. c. renovatus.
Bidessini is a tribe of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are at least 40 genera and at least 630 described species in Bidessini.
Dytiscinae is a subfamily of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are at least 20 genera and 380 described species in Dytiscinae.
Eretes sticticus, the western erete, is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is found in Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas from the southern United States to Peru. This species preys specifically on mosquito larvae in ponds and pools. They can kill up to all the instar larvae of the mosquito depending on size and density of the prey.
Acilius fraternus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is found in North America.
Acilius semisulcatus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is found in North America.
Eretes explicitus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is found in North America.
Hydrodytes dodgei is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is found in North America.
Hydrodytinae is a subfamily of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are at least two genera and four described species in Hydrodytinae.
Herophydrus musicus, is a species of predaceous diving beetle found in Asia and Europe.
