Cedar Creek
Natural History Area

Insects of Cedar Creek

Order COLEOPTERA

Family HYDROPHILIDAE

(Water Scavenger Beetles)

(Table of Species)

More work needs to be done with the Water Scavenger Beetles (284 NA spp). Most are aquatic and resemble Dytiscids; but the subfamily Sphaeridiinae contains terrestrial species found in dung and detritus. Hydrophilids swim with alternate strokes of their hind limbs and have short clubbed antennae and long maxillary palps. Many have a spine-like keel on the abdomen. Larvae are predaceous and have only one tarsal claw.  Adults are generally scavengers. Perhaps 15 species in 5 Subfamilies have been collected at Cedar Creek.

HELOPHORINAE
A few specimens of Helophorus sp, collected.  These species are small-elongate with wrinkled elytra?

HYDROCHINAE
Hydrochus squamifer collected.

HYDROPHILINAE
Species collected include the gigantic Hydrophilus triangularis.  Hydrochara obtusata is a common large-elongate black species. Tropisternus 3?spp(?glaber, natator, lateris?), are common medium-elongate dark green species.

BEROSINAE
 Berosus (2+spp--fraternus, striatus), are fairly common in quiet waters. Species are army green ovoid creatures with black markings.

HYDROBIINAE
This is the most commonly collected subfamily.   Most  species are small, black, oval-convex.  These include: Enochrus (3 spp--ochraceus, perplexus, cinctus?), Cymbiodyta toddi, Anacaena sp, Helocombus bifidus, Hydrobius fuscipes, and Laccobius sp.

SPHAERIDIINAE
Only a few specimens of  the terrestrial Cercyon sp. have been collected.

jhaar@lter.umn.edu Last updated May, 2000