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.
Copelatus is a large genus of small diving beetles. There are some 470 described species in the genus, found worldwide, but they are most diverse in tropical South America, Africa and South-East Asia.
Rhantus is a genus of beetle in family Dytiscidae. There are about 100 species distributed worldwide. They often live in pools and marshy habitat types. Several species have colonized oceanic islands and become endemics.
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 Afrotropic and Neotropic 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.
Laccophilus is a genus of water beetle found in nearly every temperate or tropical region in the world including but not limited to Europe, the Near East, the Nearctic, North Africa and the Oriental region. It contains the following species:
Hyphydrus is a genus of diving beetle native to the Palearctic, the Afro-tropical region, the Near East, North Africa. It contains the following species:
Platambus is a genus of beetle native to the Palearctic, including Europe, the Near East and North Africa. It distinguished by a wide epipleuron. The ventral surface has spot markings.
Hydaticus is a genus of predatory water beetle belonging to the family Dytiscidae, native to the Palearctic, the Afro-tropical region, the Near East, the Nearctic and North Africa. It contains the following species:
Platynectes is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, containing the following species:
Clypeodytes is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, containing the following species:
Hydroglyphus is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, containing the following species:
Agnoshydrus is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, containing the following eight species:
Anginopachria is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, containing the following species:
Neptosternus is a genus of beetles in the family Dytiscidae, containing the following species:
Copelatus boukali is a species of diving beetle. It is part of the genus Copelatus of the subfamily Copelatinae in the family Dytiscidae. It was described by Hendrich & Balke in 1998.
Helochares is a genus of hydrophilid beetles with over 180 species in five subgenera worldwide.
Rhantus plantaris is a naturally uncommon species of diving beetle in the family Dytiscidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. For over a century, it was known from just a single specimen collected in 1880 "near Dunedin", and doubts were cast on whether it was actually a New Zealand species at all. In 1986, it was rediscovered when several were collected from a roadside pond near Lake Ellesmere. Rhantus plantaris is now classed as "naturally uncommon" by the Department of Conservation.
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.
Neobidessodes is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are about 10 described species in Neobidessodes. They are found in Australasia.
