Hydrophiloidea

Definition

A superfamily of beetles (order Coleoptera), commonly called water scavenger beetles, comprising the families Hydrophilidae (the largest, with ~3,000 species), Sphaeritidae, Synteliidae, and others. Members are predominantly aquatic, with secondarily terrestrial lineages such as sphaeridiine dung beetles. The group is nested within the infraorder Staphyliniformia and first appears in the Late Jurassic fossil record.

Etymology

From Hydrophilus (type genus, from Greek hydro- 'water' + philos 'loving') + -oidea (superfamily suffix)

Example

Larvae of Hydrophiloidea typically possess well-developed tracheal gills for respiration in aquatic habitats, whereas the sphaeridiine lineage has reverted to terrestrial life in dung and decaying organic matter.

Synonyms

• water scavenger beetles (common name)

Related Terms

• Hydrophilidae
• Staphyliniformia
• Histeroidea
• Coleoptera
• sphaeridiine

Usage Notes

Modern taxonomy has elevated several former hydrophilid subfamilies to family rank, restricting Hydrophilidae sensu stricto. Some classifications subsume Histeroidea within a broader Hydrophiloidea sensu lato. The superfamily is distinguished from Dytiscoidea (diving beetles) by clubbed antennae and maxillary palps often longer than the antennae.