Lesser Diving Beetle

Description:

Acilius sulcatus is a species of water beetle in family Dytiscidae.It is fairly large (14.4 – 18.2 mm), with color variation shown throughout its range.

Habitat:

Alpine lake (2050 masl).

Notes:

A.sulcatas shows a generalist response to habitat choice living in bogs, ponds, streams, etc. As A. sulcatus is able to fly it is not restricted to a single body of water. A. sulcatus is a predatory diving beetle which feeds upon small invertebrate and vertebrate prey. A. sulcatus is clumsy on land, but it is well adapted for an aquatic lifestyle and is a strong flier. A. sulcatus is highly adapted for aquatic movement and can make effective us of its speed to escape threats. When tested against 72 other common water beetle species A. sulcatus was shown to have the highest movement velocity.