|
Family Hydrophilidae - Water Scavenger Beetles
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)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes incl. Georissidea=Georyssidae, Helophoridae, Hydrochidae, Spercheidae, Sphaeridiidae Numbers Arnett, p. 399, lists 284 species for North America (1).
Worldwide, 168 genera and 28303 species ( Australian Faunal Directory). Identification Small to large beetles, most are aquatic. The aquatic groups superficially resemble Dysticidae, the Predaceous Diving Beetles. (Note differences in antennae--see print references.) Some genera have prominent keel on underside.
Water Scavenger beetles come up for air head first, while Predaceous Diving Beetles (Dysticidae), come up for air tail first. Hind legs move alternately in Hydrophilidae, together, like oars, in Dysticidae. Habitat Most genera aquatic. One subfamily lives in dung and moist soil. Food Some adults are scavengers, feed on dead plant (and animal?) material. Some are predatory. Larvae often predatory. Somme terrestrial species feed on dung or other decaying matter and associated maggots. Print References American Beetles, Vol. 1, Chapter 13 (2)
Ciegler, Water Beetles of South Carolina, pp. 90-135 (3)
Dillon, pp. 158-173, plates XVI, XVII (4)
White, pp. 104-108, illustrates several genera. (5)
Castner, pp. 113-114, has representative photos, comparing with other aquatics on other plates. (6)
Brimley, pp. 133-134, lists Helophorus, Hydrochus, Berosus, Hydrophilus, Dibolocelus, Hydrochara, Tropisternus, Hydrobius, and several more genera for North Carolins. (8)Internet References Australian Faunal Directory--good discussion of life history
|
|
|
|
