- 192 species in North America
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Hydrophilidae |
Identification Tips:
• Body curves outward on top but is flat or in-curved on the bottom
• Short club antennae and longer segmented structures protrude from head
• Hind legs long, flattened and with stiff hairs to assist in swimming
Life History:
• Found in all types of aquatic habitats
• Most common in shallow water with abundant vegetation
• Larvae are air breathing, predatory and climb in aquatic vegetation
• Adults are free swimming, predatory and scavenging
• They carry a bubble of air beneath their wings to supply oxygen while underwater
| POLLUTION TOLERANCE | ||||
| Very Sensitive | Somewhat Sensitive | Facultative | Somewhat Tolerant | Very Tolerant |
| Most | Some | |||
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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.
