Hydrobiomorpha casta

(Say, 1835)

Hydrobiomorpha casta is a water scavenger beetle in the Hydrophilidae. The is distributed across the Caribbean, Central America, and southeastern North America. It is one of approximately 125 species in the Hydrobiomorpha, a group of aquatic beetles adapted to freshwater .

Hydrobiomorpha casta by (c) Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Arturo Santos. Used under a CC-BY license.

Hydrobiomorpha casta 2 by Fredlyfish4. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Hydrobiomorpha casta 1 by Fredlyfish4. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Hydrobiomorpha casta: /haɪˌdroʊbaɪoʊˈmɔrfə ˈkæstə/

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Habitat

Aquatic freshwater environments. Based on -level traits and distribution records, the likely inhabits standing or slow-moving water bodies.

Distribution

Caribbean (Cuba, Bahamas), Central America (Guatemala, Belize, Rica, Panama), Mexico, and southeastern United States (Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia).

Ecological Role

As a member of Hydrophilidae, the likely contributes to nutrient cycling in aquatic through scavenging and detritivory.

More Details

Taxonomic Note

The was described by Thomas Say in 1835, making it one of the earlier described members of the Hydrobiomorpha.

Observation Data

iNaturalist records indicate 125 observations of this , suggesting it is encountered with moderate frequency by naturalists in its range.