Hydrophilidae
Guides
Agna
Agna is a genus of water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae, subfamily Sphaeridiinae. The genus was established by Smetana in 1978 and is classified within the tribe Megasternini. Members of this genus are small beetles associated with aquatic or moist habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in available sources.
Anacaena
Anacaena is a genus of small water scavenger beetles in the tribe Anacaenini, containing at least 150 species worldwide. Adults range 1.5–3.3 mm in length. The genus is characterized by a slightly expanded second maxillary palpomere relative to the third, lack of metallic lustre on the dorsal head, slight hydrofuge pubescence on proximal metafemora, and a non-carinate prosternum. Species-level identification relies primarily on aedeagus morphology.
Anacaena limbata
Anacaena limbata is a water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is native to Europe and parts of Northern Asia, and has been introduced to North America. As a member of the genus Anacaena, it inhabits aquatic and semi-aquatic environments.
Berosus aculeatus
Berosus aculeatus is a species of hydrophilid beetle first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1855. It is native to the eastern United States and Cuba, with records spanning from Florida to New England and west to Iowa and Wisconsin. The species is distinguished by its prolonged elytral apices—a diagnostic morphological feature. Like other members of the genus Berosus, it is associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Berosus hatchi
Berosus hatchi is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, described by D.C. Miller in 1965. It is found in North America, with distribution records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Berosus, it belongs to a group of aquatic beetles commonly known as water scavenger beetles.
Berosus peregrinus
Berosus peregrinus is a water scavenger beetle (Hydrophilidae) native to North America and the Caribbean. It inhabits freshwater environments including marshes, ponds, and sluggish streams. Like other members of its genus, it is adapted to aquatic life and contributes to decomposition of organic material in aquatic ecosystems.
Berosus rugulosus
Berosus rugulosus is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is found in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other members of the genus Berosus, it is associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. The species was described by George Henry Horn in 1873.
Berosus sayi
Berosus sayi is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, native to North America. First described by Thomas Say in 1825 as Berosus striatus, it was later renamed Berosus sayi by Hansen in 1999. The species is characterized by a distinctive morphological trait in females: a small tooth on the suture near the apex of each elytron.
Berosus stylifer
Stylish Water Scavenger Beetle
Berosus stylifer is a water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, described by Horn in 1873. It is found across western and central North America from Canada to Mexico. The species is part of a diverse genus of aquatic beetles commonly associated with freshwater habitats.
Cercyon
water scavenger beetles
Cercyon is a genus of small water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae, subfamily Sphaeridiinae, with at least 50 described species worldwide. The genus is predominantly terrestrial despite its family name, with species frequently associated with decaying organic matter and feces. Species occur across multiple continents including North America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Africa, with some species being adventive (introduced) outside their native ranges. Taxonomic studies have revealed cryptic species complexes distinguishable only by male genitalia and DNA sequences.
Cercyon floridanus
Cercyon floridanus is a small water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, first described by George Henry Horn in 1890. The species belongs to the diverse genus Cercyon, which contains numerous small hydrophilid beetles associated with moist or aquatic habitats. It is recorded from the southeastern United States and the Caribbean.
Cercyon haemorrhoidalis
Cercyon haemorrhoidalis is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It has been recorded across multiple continents including Australia, Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), North America, and Southern Asia. The species is part of a genus commonly associated with dung and decaying organic matter in moist habitats.
Cercyon herceus
Cercyon herceus is a small water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, described by Smetana in 1978. The species occurs across much of North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Two subspecies are recognized: C. h. herceus and C. h. frigidus. Like other members of the genus, it likely inhabits moist, decomposing organic matter near water sources.
Cercyon impressus
Cercyon impressus is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. The species has a broad distribution spanning Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. It belongs to a genus of small beetles commonly associated with moist or aquatic environments.
Cercyon laminatus
Cercyon laminatus is a small water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. The species has a broad distribution spanning multiple continents, with native records from Asia and introduced populations established in Europe, Hawaii, Chile, and Australia. It is one of many Cercyon species adapted to moist or aquatic environments where it contributes to decomposition processes.
Cercyon lateralis
Cercyon lateralis is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is native to Europe and parts of Asia, and has been introduced to North America where it is now established across much of Canada and the northern United States. The species occupies moist terrestrial and semi-aquatic habitats, typical of the genus Cercyon.
Cercyon limbatus
Cercyon limbatus is a small water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, first described by Mannerheim in 1843. It belongs to the genus Cercyon, a diverse group of beetles commonly found in moist or aquatic environments. The species has been documented across much of North America, with records from Canada and the western and northern United States.
Cercyon littoralis
Cercyon littoralis is a small water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It has a broad distribution across the Holarctic region, occurring in Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. The species has also been introduced to oceanic islands including the Azores and Tristan da Cunha.
Cercyon mendax
Cercyon mendax is a small water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It inhabits moist or aquatic environments in North America, where it contributes to nutrient cycling as a detritivore. The species was described by Smetana in 1978 and remains poorly known in terms of detailed biology.
Cercyon nigriceps
Cercyon nigriceps is a water scavenger beetle (family Hydrophilidae) with a cosmopolitan distribution spanning the Palearctic, Nearctic, Afrotropical, Oriental, and Neotropical regions. Adults are frequently found in mammalian dung and rotting plant material. The species has a complex taxonomic history with numerous synonyms due to its wide geographic range and identification challenges.
Cercyon quisquilius
Cercyon quisquilius is a small water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. Native to the Palearctic region, it has been introduced to multiple continents and is now cosmopolitan in distribution. The species is one of the most widely distributed members of the genus Cercyon, with established populations in the Americas, Australia, Africa, and various oceanic islands. It is frequently recorded in synanthropic habitats and has been used in phylogenetic studies involving DNA barcoding.
Cercyon setulosus
Cercyon setulosus is a small beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, first described by Sharp in 1884. It belongs to the genus Cercyon, a group of water scavenger beetles commonly found in moist or decaying organic matter. The species has a documented distribution across the northern Pacific Rim, including Japan, Russia, western Canada, and the northwestern United States.
Cercyon unipunctatus
Cercyon unipunctatus is a small water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, widespread across the Holarctic region. It is one of the most broadly distributed species in the genus Cercyon, occurring naturally across Europe, Northern Asia, and introduced to North America. The species was first described by Linnaeus in 1758 and belongs to the C. unipunctatus species group, which contains multiple closely related taxa in Asia. It is primarily associated with moist, decomposing organic matter.
Cercyon variegatus
Cercyon variegatus is a small water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, first described by Sharp in 1882. The species has a broad distribution across the Americas, ranging from the southeastern United States through Central America to South America. Like other members of the genus Cercyon, it is associated with moist or aquatic environments where it contributes to decomposition processes. The specific epithet 'variegatus' refers to variable or mottled coloration, though detailed morphological descriptions are limited in available sources.
Chaetarthria
Chaetarthria is a genus of water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae, first described by Stephens in 1835. The genus contains at least 27 described species. These beetles are placed in the subfamily Chaetarthriinae and tribe Chaetarthriini. They are small aquatic beetles associated with freshwater habitats.
Chaetarthria nigrella
Chaetarthria nigrella is a minute water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is one of the smallest members of its family, typically measuring only 1-2 millimeters in length. The species belongs to the subfamily Chaetarthriinae, a group of tiny beetles often associated with moist or aquatic microhabitats. Very few observations exist for this species, with only three records documented on iNaturalist, suggesting it is either genuinely rare, undercollected, or difficult to detect due to its minute size.
Chaetarthria ochra
Chaetarthria ochra is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It was described by D.C. Miller in 1974. The species is known from Central America and North America, with records from the southwestern United States (Arizona and California) and Mexico. As a member of the Chaetarthriinae subfamily, it belongs to a group of small hydrophilid beetles often associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats.
Chaetarthriinae
Chaetarthriinae is a subfamily of aquatic beetles in the family Hydrophilidae, containing 92 species in 8 genera. The subfamily is divided into two tribes: Chaetarthriini and Anacaenini. Larvae exhibit morphological diversity reflecting adaptation to varied environments. Phylogenetic analyses based on larval characters have not recovered the subfamily as monophyletic, with Chaetarthria diverging early due to unique modifications associated with riparian habitats.
Coelostoma
Coelostoma is a diverse genus of water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae, first described by Brullé in 1835. The genus comprises approximately 111 described species and is considered one of the most species-rich genera within Hydrophilidae. Members are found across the Old World, primarily in the Oriental, Afrotropical, and Palearctic regions, with limited representation in the Australian region. The genus is absent from the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, where related genera occupy similar ecological niches.
Coelostomatini
Coelostomatini is a tribe of water scavenger beetles within the family Hydrophilidae, containing approximately 7 genera and more than 70 described species. The tribe was established by Heyden in 1891. Members of this tribe are classified in the subfamily Sphaeridiinae and share morphological characteristics typical of this group, including compact body forms. The tribe includes genera such as Coelostoma, Dactylosternum, and Pelosoma, which are distributed across various regions globally.
Crenitis
Crenitis is a genus of water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae, containing approximately 19 described species. The genus was established by Bedel in 1881. These beetles belong to the subfamily Chaetarthriinae and tribe Anacaenini. They are aquatic or semi-aquatic insects found in freshwater environments.
Crenitulus
Crenitulus is a genus of small water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae, tribe Anacaenini. The genus was established by Winters in 1926 and is part of the subfamily Chaetarthriinae. Members of this genus are aquatic or semi-aquatic beetles associated with freshwater habitats. The genus is poorly documented in the scientific literature, with limited species-level information available.
Crenitulus suturalis
Crenitulus suturalis is a small water scavenger beetle (family Hydrophilidae) with a broad distribution across the Americas, ranging from the eastern and central United States through Central America to South America. The species was originally described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1866 and has been historically confused with or included in discussions of darkling beetles due to taxonomic name similarities with unrelated species. As a member of the subfamily Chaetarthriinae, it occupies moist or aquatic microhabitats distinct from the arid-adapted darkling beetles with which it shares no close relationship.
Cryptopleurum
Cryptopleurum is a genus of small water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae, containing approximately 11 described species. The genus was established by Mulsant in 1844 and is classified within the subfamily Sphaeridiinae and tribe Megasternini. Species in this genus are found across multiple continents including North America, Europe, and Africa.
Cryptopleurum subtile
Cryptopleurum subtile is a small water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, described by David Sharp in 1884. The species has a broad native distribution across East Asia and has been introduced to Europe and North America. It belongs to the subfamily Sphaeridiinae, a group characterized by compact body forms and association with moist or aquatic habitats.
Cymbiodyta
Cymbiodyta is a genus of water scavenger beetles (Hydrophilidae: Enochrinae) comprising 31 described species. The genus exhibits a strikingly disjunct distribution: 28 species occur in the Americas, while only three species inhabit the Palearctic region. A fossil species from Eocene Baltic amber (C. samueli) confirms the genus has persisted in Europe since at least the Eocene, supporting biogeographic reconstructions indicating an ancient Euro-American distribution dating to the Late Cretaceous when land connections existed between North America and Europe.
Cymbiodyta acuminata
water scavenger beetle
Cymbiodyta acuminata is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, described by Fall in 1924. It is one of 29 recognized species in the genus Cymbiodyta, which was revised taxonomically in 1974. The species is distributed across northern North America, with records from Canada and the northern United States.
Cymbiodyta bifida
Cymbiodyta bifida is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It belongs to the genus Cymbiodyta, which comprises aquatic beetles typically found in freshwater habitats. The species was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1855 and is known from eastern North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of its family, it is presumed to inhabit aquatic or semi-aquatic environments where it contributes to nutrient cycling through scavenging behavior.
Cymbiodyta dorsalis
Cymbiodyta dorsalis is a water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, first described by Motschulsky in 1859. The species was previously known under the synonym C. morata (Horn, 1890), which was synonymized with C. dorsalis in a 1974 revision of the genus. It belongs to the C. dorsalis species group within Cymbiodyta. The species is distributed across western North America and into Central America.
Cymbiodyta minima
water scavenger beetle
Cymbiodyta minima is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It was described by Notman in 1919 and is found across North America, with records from both Canada and the United States. As a member of the Hydrophilidae, it is an aquatic beetle associated with freshwater habitats.
Cymbiodyta pacifica
Cymbiodyta pacifica is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, first described by Leech in 1948. It is found in western North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada, and several western U.S. states including California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Like other members of its family, it is associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. The species is part of the subfamily Enochrinae, which contains many small to medium-sized hydrophilid beetles.
Cymbiodyta vindicata
Cymbiodyta vindicata is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is found across much of North America, with records from Canada and the United States. A neotype has been designated for this species. The genus Cymbiodyta was revised in 1974, recognizing 29 species including C. vindicata.
Dactylosternum
Dactylosternum is a genus of water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae, containing more than 20 described species. Species occupy diverse microhabitats including fungal hyphae on fallen wood, decaying wood associated with termites, and living plant tissues such as banana trees. The genus exhibits morphological variation correlated with lifestyle: species living inside plant tissues possess a compact antennal club and parallel-sided body form, while free-living species have a loose antennal club and rounded body form.
Dactylosternum cacti
Dactylosternum cacti is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is native to North America, with records from the southwestern United States and Mexico. The immature stages of this species have been described, though detailed biological information remains limited. The species name suggests an association with cacti, but specific ecological relationships require further documentation.
Deltostethus
Deltostethus is a genus of water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae, established by Sharp in 1882. The genus contains at least four described species distributed in the New World. Members belong to the subfamily Sphaeridiinae, a group of small, compact beetles often associated with moist or decaying organic matter. The genus is poorly represented in scientific collections and field observations.
Deltostethus columbiensis
Deltostethus columbiensis is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, described by Hatch in 1965. It belongs to the subfamily Sphaeridiinae, a group often associated with moist organic substrates rather than strictly aquatic habitats. The species occurs in southwestern North America and Mexico.
Derallus altus
Derallus altus is a water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, distributed across the Americas from the United States through Central and South America to the Caribbean. As a member of the tribe Berosini, it inhabits aquatic or semi-aquatic environments where it contributes to nutrient cycling through scavenging behavior. The species was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1855 and has been recorded in at least 12 U.S. states and multiple countries across the Neotropics.
Didactyliini
Didactyliini is a small tribe of water scavenger beetles within the family Hydrophilidae, currently containing the single genus Didactylus. Members of this tribe are aquatic beetles distinguished by reduced tarsal segmentation, with only two visible tarsomeres on the fore and mid legs. The tribe was established to accommodate this unusual morphological condition, which separates it from other Hydrophilinae. The genus occurs in the Neotropical region, where species inhabit freshwater environments.
Enochrus blatchleyi
Enochrus blatchleyi is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, described by Fall in 1924. It is distributed across eastern and central North America, with records from Canada (Manitoba) and multiple U.S. states spanning from the Northeast to the Gulf Coast. The species belongs to a genus of aquatic beetles commonly found in lentic freshwater habitats. It is among the less frequently documented Enochrus species, with limited observational data available.
Enochrus cinctus
Water Scavenger Beetle
Enochrus cinctus is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is native to North America, with documented records across much of the United States and southern Canada. As a member of the Hydrophilidae, it is an aquatic beetle associated with freshwater habitats. The species was originally described by Thomas Say in 1824 under the basionym Hydrobius cinctus.