Click on any image to open the slideshow
Cybister fimbriolatus (Say 1825)
Fringed Diving Beetle
Giant Diving Beetle
Florida native
These beetles are typically found in deep waters of lakes, ponds, ditches and other standing water throughout much of Florida. The range extends across the eastern United States and Mexico and into southern Canada plus the Bahamas.
A large dark beetle with a thin tan band around the perimeter. The body is a streamlined convex long-oval shape, 28-34mm (up to 1-1/3in.) long. The hind legs are flattened and fringed with hairs.
Members of the predaceous diving beetle family are both excellent swimmers and good flyers. They move the hindlegs together in unison when swimming. They are known to fly to lights and utilize temporary water holes. Adults feed on various aquatic animals, including fish, The larvae of this family are known as water tigers and have large sickle-like jaws and are known to feed on animals larger than they are.
Cybister fimbriolatus is a member of the Dytiscidae - Predaceous Diving Beetles family.
iNaturalist profile for this species
For more information on this species, visit the following link:
Bugguide.net page for this species
Date record last modified: Mar 04, 2024
