Genus Hydrophilus
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
Other Common Names Giant Water Scavenger Beetles Synonyms and other taxonomic changes Dibolocelus ovalis = Hyrdophilus ovata. Explanation of Names Author of genus is Geoffroy, 1762. Generic name means "water-loving", of course. Numbers Arnet lists five species for North America. [cite:2879]
Nearctica.com lists three species, but lists Dibolocelus ovalis, now H. ovata. Identification Large (!) water scavengers. Mouthparts project forward and down, can be mistaken for antennae.
Water scavengers have keeled sternum, come up for air head first. Diving beetles have unkeeled sternum, come up for air tail first. Range North America. H. triangularis is widespread over North America and probably most commonly seen. H. ovata is widespread in east, apparently common southward. Habitat Aquatic, favors ponds, slow streams. Season April-November (H. triangularis, South Carolina), April-June, September (H. triangularis, North Carolina) Food Decaying aquatic animals (and plants?), takes some live prey. Life Cycle Female deposits up to 140 yellow eggs in cocoon-like egg case with a "mast". Case is large, about 15 X 24 mm, and floats or is attached to an underwater object. Larvae aquatic, predatory? Pupation occurs in moist soil. Adults emerge in under two weeks and return to the water. There are one or two generations per year. Some adults overwinter on land, under leaf litter. Others may remain under ice of ponds and stay active all winter. Lifespan may exceed one year. Adults may be found at lights in summer as they disperse. See Also Hydrochara in the same family
Compare also large predaceous diving beetles, such as:
Print References Dillon, p. 165, plate XVII--H. triangularis (2)
Salsbury, p. 172--H. triangularis (3)
Brimley, p. 133, lists for North Carolina: H. triangularis, April-September, widespread, and Dibolocelus ovatus (now Hydrophilus ovata), April-May from Raleigh. (4)
Milne, p. 545, fig. 93 (5)
White, p. 106, fig. 37 (6)Internet References Mississippi Entomological Museum--illustration of H. triangularis
North Carolina State University Entomology lists H. triangularis for that state, with 169 pinned. That collection also lists Dibolocelus (now Hydrophilus) ovalis--44 pinned. Works Cited | 3. | Insects in Kansas
By Glenn A. Salsbury and Stephan C. White | |
Contributed by Cotinis on 8 January, 2005 - 2:10pm Last updated 24 April, 2007 - 8:38am |
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