Numbers
18 species in North America (
nearctica.com)
Identification
some adults have two black spots on posterior margin of pronotum, whereas species of Haliplus lack these two spots (How to Know the Insects; Roger Bland, 1978)
Habitat
larvae and adults found among algae and other aquatic vegetation at edges of ponds and slow-moving streams
Food
larvae feed entirely on algae
adults feed on aquatic worms, small crustaceans, hydrozoans, midge eggs, and algae
Life Cycle
overwinters as an adult in permanent standing water
Remarks
adults may be attracted to artificial light
See Also
species of Haliplus lack two black spots on posterior margin of pronotum
Internet References
live adult images of
Peltodytes species (US Environmental Protection Agency)
pinned adult image - enlarged (Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, California)
live adult and larva images plus other info (U. of Michigan)
preserved adult images of
P. edentulus (Insects of Cedar Creek, Minnesota)
Contributed by
Robin McLeod on 15 June, 2005 - 11:09pm
Last updated 7 August, 2006 - 11:53pm
