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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Water, Rove, Scarab, Long-horned, Leaf and Snout Beetles (Polyphaga) » Series Staphyliniformia » Water Scavenger and Clown Beetles (Hydrophiloidea) » Water Scavenger Beetles (Hydrophilidae) » Helophorinae » Helophorus

Photo#13037

Copyright © 2005 Robin McLeod

beetle in water - Helophorus

Lucan Conservation Area, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada
April 8, 2004
Size: about 5 mm

In puddle beside road. A poor image but I'm hoping someone will recognize the pattern on this one. It was trying to swim and not making much progress.

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Contributed by Robin McLeod on 16 March, 2005 - 7:37am
Last updated 29 April, 2005 - 1:58am

Helophorus sp.

This is a typical Helophorus species- note the 5 grooves on the pronotum, which are slightly visible. It was likely not 'swimming' in the water but had been disturbed and caught in the surface tension...which is why it was not 'making progress'. They usually are clinging to grasses or in the mud in such habitats.

… Andrew Short, 28 April, 2005 - 12:24am

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Helophorus

Thanks, Andrew. Moved from Hydrophilidae to genus page in Guide.

… Robin McLeod, 29 April, 2005 - 1:58am

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Helophorus sp. ?

Robin-

This is either a Helophorus (Hydrophilidae: Helophorinae) or Hydrochus (Hydrophilidae: Hydrochinae) water scavenger beetle. Usually the two genera are pretty easy to tell apart, but the photo is just obscure enough for me to be not absolutely sure it's the former genus.

cheers,

zack

… Zack Falin, 16 March, 2005 - 8:46am

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Helophorus & Hydrochus

Thanks again, Zack. There's several species in both of those genera in Ontario, so I'm afraid distribution info at the provincial level can't help to rule out possibilities for this one.

… Robin McLeod, 17 March, 2005 - 9:56am

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Sure

On second glance - that sounds right.
Robin, try and get a better shot, this would still be a new genus [either one] for the guide.
The guide still needs plenty of genera - I'm still waiting for any Aphodiine Scarab.

… Phillip Harpootlian, 16 March, 2005 - 9:50am

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A Riffle Beetle?

From the photo its tough, but it looks like a Riffle Beetle [Elmidae]. The adults are aquatic, but they crawl, don't swim.

If you ever get a better photo - post it, this is a new Family for the Guide.

… Phillip Harpootlian, 16 March, 2005 - 8:09am

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