University of Alberta Museums Search

Species Details

Dytiscus alaskanus

Freshwater Invertebrate Collection Read more about this collection »

Common NameBoreal water beetle SeasonalityAdult population peak in late spring, declining into fall (Aiken and Wilkinson 1985). IdentificationSmall to medium size (22.6 to 32.0 mm), elongate body (Larson et al. 2000). Brown-black to black - many with green appearance. Basal segments of antennae yellow, terminal segments darker. All pronotal margins bordered with yellow. Lateral border of elytra yellow, not reaching apex. Females with yellow striae and dark ridges. Yellow ventral surface, except brown-black metasternum, reddish metacoxa, margins of abdominal sterna narrowly black and thoracic sclerites with narrowly black margins. Dark basolateral marking on second and third sterna. Yellow or reddish legs.
Royal Alberta Museum page
Scientific Name Dytiscus alaskanus Common Name Boreal water beetle Seasonality Adult population peak in late spring, declining into fall (Aiken and Wilkinson 1985). Identification
Small to medium size (22.6 to 32.0 mm), elongate body (Larson et al. 2000). Brown-black to black - many with green appearance. Basal segments of antennae yellow, terminal segments darker. All pronotal margins…
Small to medium size (22.6 to 32.0 mm), elongate body (Larson et al. 2000). Brown-black to black - many with green appearance. Basal segments of antennae yellow, terminal segments darker. All pronotal margins bordered with yellow. Lateral border of elytra yellow, not reaching apex. Females with yellow striae and dark ridges. Yellow ventral surface, except brown-black metasternum, reddish metacoxa, margins of abdominal sterna narrowly black and thoracic sclerites with narrowly black margins. Dark basolateral marking on second and third sterna. Yellow or reddish legs.
Royal Alberta Museum page
Life History Overwinter as adults in permanent waters (Larson et al. 2000). Early spring mating (Aiken 1992). Univoltine (Aiken and Wilkinson 1985). Strong swimmers, hind legs move together while swimming. Adults attracted to lights. Conservation No special status (IUCN 2002). Diet Info Predatory - active swimmers. Invertebrate and fish larvae prey. Suggestion that diet primarily composed of dead animal matter (Aiken and Leggett 1984). Predation rates highest at night (Aiken 1986). Range
In Alberta this species has been recorded from most regions. This species ranges from Alaska to Newfoundland; known from all provinces and states along the USA-Canada border, as far south as Colorado (Larson et al.…
In Alberta this species has been recorded from most regions. This species ranges from Alaska to Newfoundland; known from all provinces and states along the USA-Canada border, as far south as Colorado (Larson et al. 2000, Partridge and Lauff 1999).
Dytiscus alaskanus
Dytiscus alaskanus

Citation

Page Citation for Dytiscus alaskanus

Page Citation

"Species Details - Dytiscus alaskanus, Freshwater Invertebrate Collection." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/5-4259. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

Authorship

Name Edgar, M.
Role species page author
Date 2003

References

Specimen Information

There are 2 specimens of this Species.

2 results plotted on map in 1 marker.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

IN4778 - Dytiscus alaskanus

Freshwater Invertebrate Collection

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Wood Buffalo National Park Collected ByClassen, M. Date Collected2005-06-05

IN4789 - Dytiscus alaskanus

Freshwater Invertebrate Collection

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Wood Buffalo National Park Collected ByClassen, M. Date Collected2005-05-20