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 MIssissippi Hydrophilidae 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