On sun-exposed east-facing slope, protected from the wind which was very strong that day. With @nacairns
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.
Update: has since pupated, with a final instar III length of ~62mm measured from urogomphi to mandibles.
Update: they have emerged as an adult with a final size of ~39mm, spending 19 days as a pupa before emergence.
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.
Leg colour unclear (and I cannot clearly recall) Dowagers photographed nearby in very similar lighting show clear yellow legs.
Size seemed larger than Least sandpipers seen a day or two later.
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.
Coulee in badlands
In weedy lot
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.