• 4 genera and 67 species in North America
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Haliplidae |
Identification Tips:
• Body length 2-6 mm
• Yellowish or brownish background with black spots
• Antennae slender; not clubbed at ends
• Numerous rows of small indentations on back
• Hind legs have fringe of stiff hairs to assist in swimming
• Hind legs are almost half covered with a pair of broad plates on the abdomen
Life History:
Larvae and Adults
• Typically found among aquatic plants or algae in still or very slow moving water
• Most are herbivores, feeding on algae, or piercing and sucking juices from plants
• Larvae absorb oxygen through the whole body surface, while adults trap air bubbles under the wings
| POLLUTION TOLERANCE | ||||
| Very Sensitive | Somewhat Sensitive | Facultative | Somewhat Tolerant | Very Tolerant |
| Most | ||||
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Primary Information Source:
Voshell, J. Reese. 2002. A Guide to Common Freshwater Invertebrates of North America. McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company. Blacksburg, Virginia.
