Life history of Copelatus kammuriensis Tamu and Tsukamoto, 1955 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Copelatinae) and biological implications

Abstract

The diversity of Japanese Dytiscidae has declined substantially in recent years, therefore, a better understanding of the biology and ecology of this insect family is essential to ensure its conservation. In this study, captive breeding experiments were conducted to elucidate the life history, and field surveys were performed to determine the reproductive habitats of the Japanese endemic species Copelatus kammuriensis Tamu and Tsukamoto, 1955. The reproductive habitats, egg-laying environments, immature periods, and unique ecology of the species were identified. The larval periods of five Copelatus species were compared, and that of C. kammuriensis was found to be the shortest; its reproductive habitats were unstable rain pools that easily dried up in the absence of rain over up to 10 days. These results suggest that a short larval period and rapid predatory behaviour are important for the survival of C. kammuriensis.

Keywords:

• Biology
• conservation
• diving beetle
• immature stages
• temporary water

Acknowledgements

We express our sincere gratitude to Tomoki Sumikawa at the Ishikawa Insect Museum for his cooperation with rearing experiments and confirming the ages of larvae, and Hirokazu Fukutomi at the Ishikawa Insect Museum for his support with microscopic observations. Finally, we would like to thank Editage (www.editage.jp) for English language editing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by joint research expenses from the Hoshizaki Green Foundation.