Hydrophilidae - Introduction

Hydrophilidae - Introduction
Introduction
Aquatic Hydrophilidae of Mississippi
MEM Publications
Links
Research Taxa
MEM
Hydrophilidae - Introduction
Many hydrophilid beetles (order Coleoptera), both adults and
larvae, are aquatic or semiaquatic, but some live in fresh mammal dung, humus-rich
soil, or decaying leaves. Generally, the adults of both the aquatic and terrestrial
species are herbivorous, but will also eat dead animal tissue, and a few prey
on other insects. All larvae are carnivorous. Aquatic species may be found
living in quiet pools, quiet areas of lakes or streams having an abundance
of vegetation, or in brackish water.
Hydrophilid beetles range in length from 1.0 to 40 mm. They have short antennae (often concealed) ending
in a 4 segmented club and with the first segment enlarged and almost always
more or less enclosing the following segment. Some genera have a distinctive keel present ventrally.
Introduction
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MIssissippi Hydrophilidae
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Publications
|
Links
|
Research Taxa
|
MEM
Page Author: Joe A. MacGown:
jmacgown@entomology.msstate.edu
For other questions or comments about this site contact Joe MacGown:
jmacgown@entomology.msstate.edu
All photographs and drawings copyrighted by the Mississippi Entomological Museum
Uploaded on
8 December 2010; last updated on 19 August 2015