Ecology, Systematics, and the Natural History of Predaceous Diving Beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

The 2nd edition of this comprehensive book provides one of the most complete overviews of the aquatic beetles in the family Dytiscidae, also known as predaceous diving beetles. Dytiscids constitute one of the largest families of freshwater insects with approximately 4,650 named species that come in a variety of sizes, colors, and habitat affinities. Although dytiscid adults and larvae are ubiquitous throughout a variety of aquatic habitats, and are important predators on other aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates, there are no compilations that have focused on summarizing the knowledge on aspects of their ecology, systematics, and biology. Chapters in this book summarize hitherto scattered topics, including their anatomy and habitats, chemical and community ecology, phylogenies and larval morphology including chaetotaxy, sexual systems, predation, dispersal, conservation, and cultural and historical aspects. The 2nd edition offers updates on the newest scientific findings on dytiscids and also includes a new chapter on the subterranean fauna from Australia. The information in this new edition is potentially beneficial to anyone working in aquatic systems where dytiscids are an important part of the food web. Moreover, readers will gain a greater appreciation of dytiscids as model organisms for investigations of fundamental principles derived from ecological and evolutionary theory. Contributed chapters are by authors who are actively engaged in studying dytiscids, and each chapter provides color photos and future directions for research. Preface Introduction to the Second Edition Contents Chapter 1: An Introduction to the Dytiscidae: Their Diversity, Historical Importance, Cultural Significance, and Other Musings 1.1 Dytiscids Past and Present 1.2 Nature Red in Tooth and Clawand Mandible 1.3 Cultural Notes 1.4 Final Words References Chapter 2: Larval Chaetotaxy of World Dytiscidae (Coleoptera: Adephaga) and Implications for the Study of Hydradephaga 2.1 Introduction 2.2 General Morphology of Dytiscidae Larvae 2.3 Chaetotaxy Analysis: Methodological Approach 2.4 Ground Plan Pattern of Primary Setae and Pores of the Dytiscidae 2.4.1 Cephalic Capsule 2.4.2 Head Appendages 2.4.3 Legs 2.4.4 Last Abdominal Segment 2.4.5 Urogomphus 2.5 Making the Wealth of the Dytiscidae Chaetotaxy Pattern Available for Study Other Hydradephaga Larvae 2.6 Larval Chaetotaxy and Ontogeny 2.7 Summary: Prospective Ideas References Chapter 3: The Phylogeny and Classification of Predaceous Diving Beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) 3.1 Introduction 3.1.1 History of Dytiscidae systematics 3.1.2 Overview of Current Diving Beetle Classification 3.2 Material and Methods 3.2.1 Taxon Sampling 3.2.1.1 Ingroup 3.2.1.2 Outgroup 3.2.2 DNA 3.2.3 Morphology 3.2.4 Analysis 3.2.4.1 Alignment 3.2.4.2 Parsimony 3.2.4.3 Bayesian 3.3 Results 3.4 Discussion 3.5 Diving Beetle Phylogeny and Classification 3.5.1 Matinae Branden, 1885 3.5.1.1 Type Genus 3.5.1.2 Diagnosis 3.5.1.3 Discussion 3.5.1.4 Taxon Content 3.5.2 Lancetinae Branden, 1885 3.5.2.1 Type Genus 3.5.2.2 Diagnosis 3.5.2.3 Discussion 3.5.2.4 Taxon Content 3.5.3 Agabinae Thomson, 1867 3.5.3.1 Type Genus 3.5.3.2 Diagnosis 3.5.3.3 Discussion 3.5.3.4 Taxon Content 3.5.4 Agabini Thomson, 1867 3.5.4.1 Type Genus 3.5.4.2 Diagnosis 3.5.4.3 Discussion 3.5.4.4 Taxon Content 3.5.5 Hydrotrupini Roughley, 2000 3.5.5.1 Type Genus 3.5.5.2 Diagnosis 3.5.5.3 Discussion 3.5.5.4 Taxon Content 3.5.6 Colymbetinae Erichson, 1837 3.5.6.1 Type Genus 3.5.6.2 Diagnosis 3.5.6.3 Discussion 3.5.6.4 Taxon Content 3.5.7 Copelatinae Branden, 1885 3.5.7.1 Type Genus 3.5.7.2 Diagnosis 3.5.7.3 Discussion 3.5.7.4 Taxon Content 3.5.8 Laccophilinae Gistel, 1848 3.5.8.1 Type Genus 3.5.8.2 Diagnosis 3.5.8.3 Discussion 3.5.8.4 Taxon Content 3.5.9 Agabetini Branden, 1885 3.5.9.1 Type Genus 3.5.9.2 Diagnosis 3.5.9.3 Discussion 3.5.9.4 Taxon Content 3.5.10 Laccophilini Gistel, 1848 3.5.10.1 Type Genus 3.5.10.2 Diagnosis 3.5.10.3 Discussion 3.5.10.4 Taxon Content 3.5.11 Cybistrinae Sharp, 1880 3.5.11.1 Type Genus 3.5.11.2 Diagnosis 3.5.11.3 Discussion 3.5.11.4 Taxon Content 3.5.12 Dytiscinae Leach, 1815 3.5.12.1 Type Genus 3.5.12.2 Diagnosis 3.5.12.3 Discussion 3.5.12.4 Taxon Content 3.5.13 Dytiscini Leach, 1815 3.5.13.1 Type Genus 3.5.13.2 Diagnosis 3.5.13.3 Discussion 3.5.13.4 Taxon Content 3.5.14 Hydaticini Sharp, 1880 3.5.14.1 Type Genus 3.5.14.2 Diagnosis 3.5.14.3 Discussion 3.5.14.4 Taxon Content 3.5.15 Aubehydrini Guignot, 1942 3.5.15.1 Type Genus 3.5.15.2 Diagnosis 3.5.15.3 Discussion 3.5.15.4 Taxon Content 3.5.16 Eretini Crotch, 1873 3.5.16.1 Type Genus 3.5.16.2 Diagnosis 3.5.16.3 Discussion 3.5.16.4 Taxon Content 3.5.17 Aciliini Thomson, 1867 3.5.17.1 Type Genus 3.5.17.2 Diagnosis 3.5.17.3 Discussion 3.5.17.4 Taxon Content 3.5.18 Coptotominae Branden, 1885 3.5.18.1 Type Genus 3.5.18.2 Diagnosis 3.5.18.3 Discussion 3.5.18.4 Taxon Content 3.5.19 Hydrodytinae Miller, 2001 3.5.19.1 Type Genus 3.5.19.2 Diagnosis 3.5.19.3 Discussion 3.5.19.4 Taxon Content 3.5.20 Hydroporinae Aubé, 1836 3.5.20.1 Type Genus 3.5.20.2 Diagnosis 3.5.20.3 Discussion 3.5.20.4 Taxon Content 3.5.21 Laccornini Wolfe and Roughley, 1990 3.5.21.1 Type Genus 3.5.21.2 Diagnosis 3.5.21.3 Discussion 3.5.21.4 Taxon Content 3.5.22 Laccornellini, Miller and Bergsten, 2014 3.5.22.1 Type Genus 3.5.22.2 Diagnosis 3.5.22.3 Discussion 3.5.22.4 Taxon Content 3.5.23 Hydroporini Aubé, 1836 3.5.23.1 Type Genus 3.5.23.2 Diagnosis 3.5.23.3 Discussion 3.5.23.4 Taxon Content 3.5.24 Hydroporina Aubé, 1836 3.5.24.1 Type Genus 3.5.24.2 Diagnosis 3.5.24.3 Discussion 3.5.24.4 Taxon Content 3.5.25 Deronectina Galewski, 1994 3.5.25.1 Type Genus 3.5.25.2 Diagnosis 3.5.25.3 Discussion 3.5.25.4 Taxon Content 3.5.26 Siettitiina Smrz, 1982 3.5.26.1 Type Genus 3.5.26.2 Diagnosis 3.5.26.3 Discussion 3.5.26.4 Taxon Content 3.5.27 Sternopriscina Branden, 1885 3.5.27.1 Type Genus 3.5.27.2 Diagnosis 3.5.27.3 Discussion 3.5.27.4 Taxon Content 3.5.28 Vatellini Sharp, 1880 3.5.28.1 Type Genus 3.5.28.2 Diagnosis 3.5.28.3 Discussion 3.5.28.4 Taxon Content 3.5.29 Methlini Branden, 1885 3.5.29.1 Type Genus 3.5.29.2 Diagnosis 3.5.29.3 Discussion 3.5.29.4 Taxon Content 3.5.30 Hydrovatini Sharp, 1880 3.5.30.1 Type Genus 3.5.30.2 Diagnosis 3.5.30.3 Discussion 3.5.30.4 Taxon Content 3.5.31 Pachydrini Biström, Nilsson and Wewalka, 1997 3.5.31.1 Type Genus 3.5.31.2 Diagnosis 3.5.31.3 Discussion 3.5.31.4 Taxon Content 3.5.32 Hygrotini Portevin, 1929 3.5.32.1 Type Genus 3.5.32.2 Diagnosis 3.5.32.3 Discussion 3.5.32.4 Taxon Content 3.5.33 Hyphydrini Gistel, 1848 3.5.33.1 Type Genus 3.5.33.2 Diagnosis 3.5.33.3 Discussion 3.5.33.4 Taxon Content 3.5.34 Bidessini Sharp, 1880 3.5.34.1 Type Genus 3.5.34.2 Diagnosis 3.5.34.3 Discussion 3.5.34.4 Taxon Content 3.6 Family-Group Classification of Dytiscidae Leach, 1815 3.7 Future Directions Appendix References Chapter 4: Predaceous Diving Beetle Sexual Systems 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Sexual Variation 4.2.1 Secondary Sexual Dimorphisms 4.2.1.1 Chemical 4.2.1.2 Acoustic 4.2.1.3 Morphology 4.2.2 Genitalia 4.2.2.1 Male Genitalia 4.2.2.2 Female Genitalia 4.2.3 Sperm 4.3 Dytiscid Sexual Systems 4.3.1 Pre-insemination Sexual Systems 4.3.2 Post-insemination Sexual Systems 4.4 Summary 4.5 Future Directions References Chapter 5: Morphology, Anatomy, and Physiological Aspects of Dytiscids 5.1 External Morphology 5.1.1 External Morphology of Adults 5.1.2 External Morphology of Larvae 5.1.3 External Morphology of Pupae 5.2 Internal Anatomy and Physiology 5.2.1 Digestive System and Digestion 5.2.2 Reproductive System 5.2.3 Muscles of Thorax 5.2.4 Nervous System 5.2.5 Respiration and Tracheal System 5.3 Future Directions References Chapter 6: Chemical Ecology and Biochemistry of Dytiscidae 6.1 Chemical Ecology of Freshwater Organisms 6.2 Chemical Senses 6.3 Intraspecific Interactions: Sex Pheromones 6.4 Interspecific Interactions 6.4.1 Kairomones and Other Allelochemicals 6.4.1.1 Dytiscid Prey and Fish Predators 6.4.1.2 Dytiscids Predators and Vertebrate Prey 6.4.1.3 Dytiscid Predators and Egg-Laying Prey 6.4.2 Allomones 6.4.2.1 Pygidial Glands 6.4.2.1.1 Chemistry of the Pygidial Glands and Distribution of Pygidial Gland Constituents within Dytiscidae and Hydradephaga 6.4.2.1.2 Biological Activity of Pygidial Gland Secretions and their Regeneration 6.4.2.2 Prothoracic Defensive Glands 6.4.2.2.1 Chemistry of the Prothoracic Defensive Glands, Emphasizing those Species with Steroidal Vertebrate Hormones 6.4.2.2.2 Biological Activity and Regeneration of Prothoracic Gland Secretions 6.4.3 Other Exocrine Glands 6.5 Dermal Glands, Epicuticular Lipids, and Body Coloration by Pigments 6.5.1 Dermal Glands and Epicuticular Lipids 6.5.2 Epicuticular Lipids 6.5.3 Coloration of the Integument 6.6 Bacteria and Fungi from Dytiscids 6.6.1 Taxonomically Identified Culturable Bacterial Strains from the Dytiscid Beetle Gut, and their Steroid Metabolism under L... 6.6.2 Taxonomically Identified Culturable Bacterial Strains from the Dytiscid Beetle Gut and their Secondary Metabolites Produ... 6.6.3 Non-Culturable Bacteria from Predaceous Diving Beetles 6.6.4 Taxonomically Identified and Culturable Fungi from Aquatic Insects and Especially Dytiscid Beetles 6.7 Hemolymph: Aspects Concerning Internal Defense, Hemostasis, and Regeneration Focusing on Dytiscidae 6.7.1 Internal Defense 6.7.2 Melanization Pathway in Insect Hemolymph and Role of the Key Component Phenoloxidase 6.7.3 Hemostasis and Regeneration of Body Appendages 6.8 Future Directions References Chapter 7: Community Patterns in Dytiscids 7.1 An Introduction to Natural Communities 7.2 Random vs. Non-random Distributions 7.3 Ecological Similarity 7.4 Dispersal 7.5 Phylogenetic Community Composition 7.6 Summary and Future Directions References Chapter 8: Predator-Prey Ecology of Dytiscids 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Dytiscid Diets and Selective Predation 8.3 Consumptive and Non-consumptive Effects of Dytiscid Predation 8.4 Cannibalism and Intraguild Predation 8.5 Dytiscids as Predators of Vector and Nuisance Species 8.6 Dytiscids As Prey 8.7 Future Research References Chapter 9: The Unique Australian Subterranean Dytiscidae: Diversity, Biology, and Evolution 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Types of Environments 9.3 Species Diversity and Morphology 9.4 Biology 9.4.1 Life History 9.4.2 Feeding 9.4.3 Reproduction 9.5 Respiratory Physiology 9.6 Speciation Underground 9.7 Intra-Specific Phylogeography and Population Structure 9.8 Regressive/Adaptive Evolution 9.9 Conservation Considerations 9.10 Future Work References Chapter 10: Habitats Supporting Dytiscid Life 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Habitat Requirements and the Importance of Habitat Classifications 10.3 Abiotic Habitat Conditions 10.3.1 Lentic Versus Lotic Habitats 10.3.2 Springs 10.3.3 Permanency 10.3.4 Salinity 10.3.5 Temperature and Temperature-Related Variables, Elevation, and Latitude 10.3.6 Water pH 10.3.7 Habitat Size, Depth, Steepness, and Shading 10.3.8 Anthropogenic Habitat Degradation, Nutrients, and Pollution 10.4 Biotic Interactions 10.4.1 Vegetation Structure as a Major Habitat Factor 10.4.2 Predation, Food Resources, and Competition 10.5 Important Habitats in Anthropogenic Landscapes 10.5.1 Agricultural Habitats 10.5.2 Artificial and Urban Habitats 10.6 Peculiar Habitats for Dytiscids 10.6.1 Subterranean Habitats 10.6.2 Hygropetric Habitats 10.6.3 Interstitial Habitats 10.6.4 Rock Pools 10.6.5 Terrestrial Habitats 10.6.6 Phytotelmata 10.7 Concluding Remarks and Future Directions References Chapter 11: Dispersal in Dytiscidae 11.1 Introduction 11.2 The Evolution, Maintenance, and Consequences of Dispersal 11.2.1 Why Disperse? 11.2.2 The Evolution and Maintenance of Dispersal 11.3 Consequences of Dispersal 11.4 On Flight and Wings and Flightlessness 11.5 Proximate Drivers of Dispersal and How to Find Water 11.5.1 Dispersal Triggers at the Individual Level in the Field and the Lab 11.5.2 Weather, Season and the Timing of Field Flights 11.5.3 How Do the Beetles Find New Waterbodies and What Persuades Them to Stay? 11.5.4 Splendid Isolation: Predaceous Diving Beetles and Remote Oceanic Islands 11.6 Dispersal and Biogeography: The Macroecology of Movement in Diving Beetles 11.6.1 Dispersal and Geographical Range Size 11.6.2 Diving Beetles and the Lentic-Lotic Divide 11.7 Future Directions: Where Do We (and the Beetles) Go from Here? References Chapter 12: The Conservation of Predaceous Diving Beetles: Knowns, More Unknowns and More Anecdotes 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Dytiscidae as a Group Worth Conserving 12.3 Change 12.4 Apparent Extinction and Discovery as Motivators 12.5 The Causes of Loss 12.6 Drainage 12.7 Pollution 12.8 Encroachment 12.9 Climate Change 12.10 Globalization and the Fourth Horsemen of the Apocalypse 12.11 Misidentification as a Threat to Understanding 12.12 Types of Conservation 12.13 European Conventions: Including a Case-Study in Conservation Legislation and Its Consequences 12.14 Popularity, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services 12.15 Global Lists 12.16 Dumbing-Down 12.17 The Way Ahead: ``Passive Conservation ́ ́ and Possible Pitfalls of Connectivity 12.18 Future Directions References Index