When you think of an aquarium, you don’t usually think of aquatic beetles. Dr. Jiri Hulcr, Assistant Professor of Forest Entomology at the University of Florida, and long time aquatic beetle hobbyist, however, thinks people have things all wrong. He says that beetles are much more interesting than fish!
So why is a forest insect expert such a big bug lover? Dr. Hulcr explains where his love of "wet bugs" comes from, and will discuss some of the amazing biology and ecology of aquatic beetles that can be kept in aquaria, including the following species:
In the Family Dytiscidae
Cybister – common in the Southern US – easy to keep and impressive.
Dytiscus – common in more northern latitudes. Big, beautiful. The most beautiful
larva.
Thermonectus – common in the south, but most species are note very interesting.
Thermonectus marmoratus from Arizona is cool.
Hydrophilus – huge, pig.
Tropisternus – super common, kind of frantic.
After you download/stream and listen to the episode, and/or if you want any more information on aquatic beetles RIGHT NOW (!), feel free to contact Dr. Hulcr at: hulcr@ufl.edu
And check out some of Dr. Hulcr's cool aquatic beetle photographs:
Cybister lateralimarginalis
(photo credit: J. Hulcr)
Cybister lateralimarginalis
(photo credit: J. Hulcr)
Dytiscus circumflexus
(photo credit: J. Hulcr)
Dytiscus circumflexus
(photo credit: J. Hulcr)
Dytiscus circumflexus
(photo credit: J. Hulcr)
Hypydrus ovatus
(photo credit: J. Hulcr)
Sunburst diving beetle (Thermonectus marmoratus)
(photo credit: J. Hulcr)
(photo credit: J. Hulcr)
Sunburst diving beetle larva
(photo credit: J. Hulcr)
(photo credit: J. Hulcr)
Thanks for stopping by!
-Dr. Roy (DrRoy@petliferadio.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment