Hydrophilidae
Guides
Enochrus consors
Enochrus consors is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1863. The species is broadly distributed across eastern and central North America. As a member of the genus Enochrus, it belongs to a group of aquatic beetles commonly known as water scavenger beetles.
Enochrus cristatus
Enochrus cristatus is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1855. The species is native to western North America, with records from the southwestern United States and Mexico. As a member of the Hydrophilidae, it is associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. Very little published biological information is available for this specific species.
Enochrus sayi
Enochrus sayi is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It occurs across much of eastern and central North America, with introduced populations in the Hawaiian Islands. The species inhabits freshwater aquatic environments.
Helobata larvalis
Pickerelweed Water Beetle
Helobata larvalis is a water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, commonly known as the Pickerelweed Water Beetle. It has a broad distribution across the Americas, occurring from the United States through Central America to South America, including Caribbean islands. The species has been recorded from diverse biomes including the Cerrado of Brazil. As a member of the Acidocerinae subfamily, it inhabits aquatic or semi-aquatic environments.
Helochares maculicollis
Helochares maculicollis is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It was described by Mulsant in 1844. The species is found in North America, with distribution records across the eastern and central United States.
Helochares normatus
Helochares normatus is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, first described by LeConte in 1861. It occurs in western North America and Central America, with records from the southwestern United States through Mexico to Costa Rica. Like other members of the genus, it is associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. The species is documented through limited but geographically dispersed observations.
Helochares punctatus
Helochares punctatus is a water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, subfamily Acidocerinae. The species is native to the western Palearctic, with records from western Europe (Spain to Denmark), Morocco, and Iran. In the 2020s, it was documented as introduced and established in southwestern British Columbia, Canada, representing a notable range expansion.
Hemiosus exilis
Hemiosus exilis is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1852. It belongs to the tribe Berosini within the subfamily Hydrophilinae. The species has been recorded from the southwestern United States (Arizona and Texas) and Mexico. As a member of the genus Hemiosus, it is associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Hydrobiomorpha
Hydrobiomorpha is a genus of water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae, established by Blackburn in 1888. The genus contains 56 extant described species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions, with additional fossil species known from the Cenozoic. Members are aquatic beetles associated with freshwater habitats.
Hydrobiomorpha casta
Hydrobiomorpha casta is a water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. The species is distributed across the Caribbean, Central America, and southeastern North America. It is one of approximately 125 species in the genus Hydrobiomorpha, a group of aquatic beetles adapted to freshwater habitats.
Hydrochara obtusata
Hydrochara obtusata is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, found across northern North America. The species was originally described as Hydrophilus obtusatus by Thomas Say in 1823, with a neotype designated in a 1980 revision of the genus Hydrochara. It belongs to a genus of 21 recognized species of aquatic beetles.
Hydrophilinae
water scavenger beetles
Hydrophilinae is the largest subfamily of water scavenger beetles (family Hydrophilidae), containing approximately 1852 species in 61 genera and 8 tribes. The subfamily was revised by Short and Fikáček in 2013, which recognized five tribes: Amphiopini, Berosini, Hydrobiusini, Hydrophilini, and Laccobiini. Members are predominantly aquatic beetles found across diverse geographic regions including the Neotropics and Asia. Some genera represent ancient, possibly relict lineages with unusual morphological character combinations.
Hydrophilus
Giant Water Scavenger Beetles
Hydrophilus is a genus of large aquatic beetles in the family Hydrophilidae, commonly known as giant water scavenger beetles. The genus comprises approximately 48 species arranged in three subgenera: Hydrophilus, Dibolocelus, and Temnopterus. These beetles are among the largest aquatic insects in their range, with some species reaching substantial size. Members of this genus are fully aquatic as adults, possess the ability to disperse by flight, and exhibit distinct feeding mode shifts during development—carnivorous larvae transition to omnivorous adults. Several species are rare or endangered in parts of their range, including the great silver water beetle Hydrophilus piceus in Britain.
Hydrophilus ensifer
Hydrophilus ensifer is a large water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, distributed throughout the Americas from Argentina to the southern United States. Adults typically measure 30–37 mm in length, making them among the largest aquatic insects. Two subspecies are recognized: H. e. ensifer and H. e. duvali, though their distinguishing characteristics remain poorly understood.
Hydrophilus insularis
Hydrophilus insularis is a water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is distributed across a broad geographic range from northern South America through the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico into the southern United States. The species is aquatic and belongs to a genus known for scavenging behavior in freshwater habitats.
Laccobiini
Laccobiini is a tribe of aquatic beetles within the family Hydrophilidae, containing 367 species distributed across 8 genera. Members are small to minute water scavenger beetles occupying diverse freshwater habitats across multiple continents. The tribe includes the well-known genus Laccobius and the hygropetric-specialist genus Oocyclus.
Laccobius
water scavenger beetles
Laccobius is a diverse genus of water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae, with more than 80 described species worldwide. Species are classified into several subgenera including Microlaccobius, Hydroxenus, Glyptolaccobius, and Dimorpholaccobius. They are found across multiple continents including Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America, inhabiting a variety of freshwater marginal habitats.
Laccobius agilis
Agile Laccobius Scavenger
Laccobius agilis is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is native to North America and has been recorded across a broad geographic range including much of Canada and the United States. The species is one of approximately 200 described species in the genus Laccobius, which are primarily associated with aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats. Observations of this species are relatively sparse, with limited detailed ecological information available in published literature.
Laccobius borealis
Laccobius borealis is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It has been recorded across northern and western North America, from Alaska and Canada through the western United States to Mexico. The species belongs to a genus of small aquatic beetles commonly found in freshwater habitats.
Laccobius spangleri
A small water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, known from eastern and central North America. Adults are associated with aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats. The species is one of approximately 50 Laccobius species worldwide, with most occurring in the Northern Hemisphere.
Limnohydrobius
Limnohydrobius is a genus of water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae, tribe Hydrobiusini. The genus was established by Reitter in 1909 and contains species associated with freshwater habitats. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized hydrophilid beetles with the characteristic clubbed antennae of the family. The genus is distinguished from related hydrobiusine genera by specific features of the maxillary palps and genitalia.
Limnohydrobius melaenus
Limnohydrobius melaenus is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is found in eastern North America, ranging from the Canadian Maritime provinces west to the upper Midwest and south to the southeastern United States. The species is associated with aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats. Like other members of the genus, it is presumed to have aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults.
Oosternum costatum
Oosternum costatum is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is a small beetle found in North America, with records from the eastern and central United States and Mexico. The species was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1855.
Oosternum pubescens
Oosternum pubescens is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1855. It belongs to the subfamily Sphaeridiinae, a group of small to minute beetles often associated with moist or aquatic environments. The species is known from eastern and central North America, with records spanning from the northeastern United States through the Midwest and south to Florida and Texas. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to inhabit moist microhabitats, though detailed ecological studies remain limited.
Paracymus confluens
Paracymus confluens is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, described by Wooldridge in 1966. It is a small aquatic beetle found in freshwater habitats across parts of North America. Like other members of the genus Paracymus, it is associated with aquatic environments and contributes to nutrient cycling as a detritivore.
Paracymus subcupreus
Paracymus subcupreus is a water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1825. It is known from North America with records spanning Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Sperchopsis
Sperchopsis is a genus of water scavenger beetles in the family Hydrophilidae. The genus was established by LeConte in 1861. It contains a single described species, Sperchopsis tessellata.
Sperchopsis tessellata
Checkered Water Beetle
Sperchopsis tessellata, commonly known as the Checkered Water Beetle, is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is distributed across eastern North America, from Canada through the eastern and central United States. As a member of the Hydrophilidae family, it is adapted to aquatic environments. The species was first described by Ziegler in 1844 under the basionym Spercheus tessellatus.
Sphaeridium marginatum
Sphaeridium marginatum is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, first described by Fabricius in 1787. It belongs to the subfamily Sphaeridiinae, a group commonly known as dung beetles within the Hydrophilidae. The species has a broad Palearctic distribution across Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia, with introduced populations reported in North America. It is associated with decaying organic matter and moist habitats.
Tropisternus collaris
collared water scavenger beetle
Tropisternus collaris is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is found across a broad geographic range including the Caribbean, North America, and South America. The species was described by Fabricius in 1775, originally as Hydrophilus collaris. Several subspecies have been recognized, including T. c. collaris, T. c. mexicanus, T. c. proximus, T. c. striolatus, and T. c. viridis.
Tropisternus columbianus
water scavenger beetle
Tropisternus columbianus is a water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is known to produce sound through stridulation, a behavior studied in western Oregon populations alongside congeneric species. The species occurs across western North America and has been recorded in aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats.
Tropisternus fuscitarsis
Tropisternus fuscitarsis is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, first described by Sharp in 1882. The species has been recorded from Mexico, Central America, and South America including Brazil and Uruguay. As a member of the genus Tropisternus, it is associated with aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats. The specific epithet "fuscitarsis" refers to dark or dusky tarsi.
Tropisternus lateralis
Lateral-lined Water Beetle
Tropisternus lateralis is a hydrophilid water beetle with a broad distribution across the Americas, ranging from Canada through the United States, Mexico, and South America to the Caribbean. Studies of subspecies T. lateralis nimbatus in Texas playas documented colonization from surrounding aquatic habitats during flood periods, drought avoidance through aerial dispersal, and secondary production of 1.31 g/m²/0.25 year. Males of the related subspecies T. lateralis limbalis produce species-specific stridulatory sounds used in male-male interactions and possibly mate attraction.
Tropisternus lateralis limbalis
Tropisternus lateralis limbalis is a subspecies of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It is known to produce acoustic signals, with males generating sounds that function in mate attraction and courtship. The subspecies has been documented in western Oregon and has a broad distribution across North America extending into South America and the Caribbean.
Tropisternus mixtus
Tropisternus mixtus is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1855. It is distributed across eastern and central North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. The species is relatively poorly documented in scientific literature compared to some congeners.
Tropisternus sublaevis
Tropisternus sublaevis is a species of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. The species was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1855. It is distributed across western and central North America, with records from the United States and Mexico. The species belongs to the subgenus Tropisternus (Tropisternus) and has been subject to some taxonomic confusion, with a later homonym described by Blatchley in 1910.