Species Hydrophilus ovatus

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Giant Water Scavenger Beetle - Hydrophilus ovatus

Water Scavenger Beetle - Hydrophilus ovatus

Hydrophilus triangularis - Hydrophilus ovatus

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Hydrophiloidea (Water Scavenger and Clown Beetles)

Family Hydrophilidae (Water Scavenger Beetles)

Genus Hydrophilus

Species ovatus (Hydrophilus ovatus)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Dibolocelus ovatus, Dibolocelus ovalis

Size

31-33 mm

Identification

Large, black (tinged with olive), shining. Prominent spine (prosternal process) underneath. Similar to the generally larger and more oblong H. triangularis. The two are keyed based on the prosternum, divided into two lobes in D. ovatus, undivided (entire) in H. triangularis--see print references for details (1) (2). H. ovatus is more common in south, though H. triangularis occurs, apparently, in most or all of the range of H. ovatus.

Range

Eastern North America: Ontario to Florida, west to Michigan, Indiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi.

Habitat

Deep lakes, slow rivers(?) with vegetation. Also comes to lights at night.

Season

April-November (South Carolina). Brimley (3) noted from Raleigh, North Carolina, in April, May.

See Also

Hydrophilus triangularis

Compare also large Dytiscidae, such as Dytiscus, Cybister

Print References

Dillon, p. 166, fig. 146--prosternal process, plate XVII (1)

Ciegler, p. 124, fig. 6.73--prosternal process (2)

Brimley, p. 133 (3)

Internet References

Aquatic Hydrophilidae of Mississippi--illustration

Checklist of the Beetles of Oklahoma

Works Cited

1.	A Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America By Dillon, Elizabeth S., and Dillon, Lawrence

2.	Water Beetles of South Carolina By Janet Ciegler

3.	Insects of North Carolina By C.S. Brimley

Contributed by Tony DiTerlizzi on 6 August, 2005 - 10:51pm
Additional contributions by cotinis
Last updated 16 June, 2006 - 8:55am

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