HYDROPHILIDAE - WATER SCAVENGING BEETLES
Though superficially similar to the Dytiscidae, this aquatic group of beetles can be distinguished on account of their differences and antennal structure and (in some species) by the presence of a keel on the ventral side. Note also that members of this family kick the legs alternately when swimming (they don´t row like oars) and that they come up for air head first rather than tail first as in the Dytiscidae. Though known as water scavenging beetles a few species are predatory. Scavenging species take both plant and animal material.
Online Resources
Hydrophiloidea.org An extensive site with information on this group, including an electronic library of downloadable references.
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Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this page were taken by Paul Smith and are used with their permission.
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FIGURE 1 - Hydrophilus sp. (Stetoxus sp.) - PN Tte Enciso, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith Ocotber 2008).
