L1 Dytiscus sp. larva, caught while dip-netting through a Potamogeton natans-filled, lentic, beaver pond runoff stream.
Looks to be the same species as my last Dytiscus observation which I believe to be D. harrisii on account of the larvae matching morphological and behavioural descriptions of the larvae described in Leclair et al. (1986) "Prey Choice in Larval Dytiscus harrisii Kirby and D. verticalis Say."
Notably, they have a relatively small head for the genus, shorter mandibles that are thicker basally than other species, a head that bends easily at 90°, and a frontoclypeus that's anterior margin is not rounded as in other Dytiscus sp. larvae and that's lateral apices extend beyond the anterior margin.
L1 larva, it looks like the same species as my previous observation and I think it's likely that they came from the same batch of eggs. I saw a couple more L1 larvae but this was the only one that was close enough to photograph.
At blacklight (one only). Collected for the Royal Alberta Museum.
Caught in a bottle trap placed among some Typha.
At blacklight (one only). Collected for the Royal Alberta Museum.
Habitat temporary wetland.
At UV light. Very warm night, 18°C. Collected for the Royal Alberta Museum.
At UV light. Very warm night, 18°C. Collected for the Royal Alberta Museum.
9 mm male; scutellum hidden; dextral symmetry (photos 2 and 3); clavopruina short, broadly rounded at apex (circled at the left in photo 4), 1/2 as long as the pruinose area posterior to the nodal furrow (circled at the right in photo 4); clavus and corium marked with tiny longitudinal scratches (photo 5); mesepimeron narrower at the scent gland ostiole (circled at the right in photo 6) than the width of the prothoracic lobe (circled at the left in photo 6); prothoracic lobe broad; pala of with upper distal angle abruptly produced (photo 7); hind femur with a row of 11 spines on the distal portion of the rear ventral margin (photo 8); strigil on the right (photo 9)
In clearing in deciduous woods, not very far from the wetland.
In clearing in deciduous woods, not very far from the wetland. There was a lot of them.
Kilini Creek. The waterstrider suddenly moved towards me because it detected the leafhopper in the water (which I had not noticed). Collected for the Royal Alberta Museum (AEP permit #23-190).