| Megadytes fraternus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Dytiscidae |
| Genus: | Megadytes |
| Species: | M. fraternus |
| Binomial name | |
| Megadytes fraternus Sharp, 1882 | |
Megadytes fraternus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is found in North America and the Neotropics. [1] [2] [3] [4]
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.
Ilybius discicolle is a species of beetle in family Dytiscidae. It is endemic to Ethiopia.
Megadytes ducalis is a species of water beetle in the family Dytiscidae. With a length of 4.75 cm (1.9 in), it is the largest species in the family. Until recently, the species was only known from a single specimen that was collected in the 1800s from an unknown locality in Brazil, although rumors indicate it was found in the bottom of a canoe in the Amazon. In 2019, a study reported 10 additional specimens, all collected from the end of the 19th century, discovered incidentally in various historical collections. While the original holotype lacked any location data, the new specimens all indicate that they were collected in Santo Antonio da Barra in the southern part of Bahia, Brazil. Villagers in the region were involved in insect trade, capturing the much sought after specimens of Hypocephalus armatus found around the region. As a consequence of the lack of recent records, the IUCN lists it as extinct. Considering the absence of information about the species and the limited studies conducted on water beetles in Brazil, it might still survive.
Megadytes is a genus of diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. They are found in slow-moving or static freshwater habitats throughout most of the Neotropics, ranging from Florida and Mexico, through the West Indies and Central America, to South America as far south as central Argentina. The adult beetles measure 1.65–4.75 cm (0.6–1.9 in) long depending on the exact species and the largest is also the largest in the family.
Megadytes lherminieri is a species in the genus Megadytes of large diving beetles found in the Caribbean and in South America.
Copelatus ilybioides is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is found in Africa.
Copelatus mahajanga is a species of diving beetle. It is part of the genus Copelatus, which is in the subfamily Copelatinae of the family Dytiscidae. It was described by Pederzani & Hájek in 2005.
Copelatus peridinus 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 Félix Guignot in 1955.
Copelatus posticatus is a species of diving beetle. It is part of the subfamily Copelatinae in the family Dytiscidae. It was described by Fabricius in 1801.
Agabus aequalis is a species of predatory diving beetle belonging to the family Dytiscidae. This species inhabits rivers and bogs. It has been found in Transbaikal, Primorsky Krai, and Sakhalin in the Russian Far East, Jilin and Sichuan provinces, China, and Arkhangai and Övörkhangai provinces, Mongolia.
Plegaderus is a genus of clown beetles in the family Histeridae. There are more than 30 described species in Plegaderus.
Dytiscus marginicollis, the giant green water beetle, is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is found in North America.
Acilius fraternus is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is found in North America.
Cybistrini is a tribe of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are 7 genera and 128 described extant species in Cybistrini.
Dytiscus alaskanus, known generally as the boreal water beetle or Alaskan diving beetle, is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is found in North America.
Dytiscus habilis is a species of predaceous diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is found in North America from Oklahoma to Arizona south throughout Mexico to Guatemala; it is the only Dytiscus species found in the Neotropics.
Madaglymbus is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are about 10 described species in Madaglymbus. They are found in Africa.
Boreonectes is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are about 16 described species in Boreonectes. They are found in North America, the Neotropics, and the Palearctic.
Fontidessus is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are about seven described species in Fontidessus. They are found in the Neotropics.
Incomptodessus is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There is one described species in Incomptodessus, I. camachoi, found in the Neotropics.
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