Common NameBoreal water beetleSeasonalityAdult 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 NameDytiscus alaskanusCommon 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).
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Citation
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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/5-4259/10-467498. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
References
Title2002 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Publication Date2002
Series TitleEcology
AuthorAiken, R. B. and F. L. Leggett
TitleA Unique Collection of two Rhantus wallisi in the Body Cavity of a Female Dytiscus alaskanus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae).
Publication Date1984
Series TitleEntomological News
Volume95
Pages200-201
AuthorAiken, R. B. and C. W. Wilkinson
TitleBionomics of Dytiscus alaskanus J. Balfour-Browne (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) in a Central Alberta Lake.
Publication Date1985
Series TitleCanadian Journal of Zoology
Volume63
Pages1316-1323
AuthorAiken, R. B.
TitleDiel activity of a boreal water beetle (Dytiscus alaskanus: Coleoptera; Dytiscidae) in the laboratory and field.
Publication Date1986
Series TitleFreshwater Biology
Volume16
Pages155-159
AuthorPatridge, V. L. and R. F. Lauff
TitleExpansion of the known range of two bog-dwelling beetles in Nova Scotia.
Publication Date1999
Series TitleNortheastern Naturalist
Volume6
Pages31-34
AuthorLarson, D. J.; Alaire, Y. and R. E. Roughley
TitlePredaceous Diving Beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) of the Nearctic Region, with emphasis on the fauna of Canada and Alaska.
Publication Date2000
Pages982
AuthorAiken, R. B.
TitleThe Mating Behaviour of the Boreal Water Beetle, Dytiscus alaskanus (Coleoptera Dytiscidae).
Publication Date1992
Series TitleEthology, Ecology and Evolution
Volume4
Pages245-254
Specimen Information
There are 2 specimens of this Species.
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2 results plotted on map in 1 marker. Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.