Superfamily: Hydrophiloidea
Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra > Arthopoda > Mandibulata > Atelocerata > Panhexapoda > Hexapoda
> Insecta
(insects) > Dicondyla > Pterygota > Metapterygota > Neoptera > Eumetabola >
Holometabola > Coleoptera
(beetles)
> Polyphaga
There are five families, all of which are found in
southern Africa. Four of them include exclusively aquatic species while in
the largest family - the Hydrophilidae - there are both aquatic
and terrestrial representatives. One of the characterisics of the family
is that in most species the maxillary palps are as long or longer than the
antennae. There are roughly 100 species
of Hydrophiloidea known from southern Africa.
Families encountered in southern Africa
Hydraenidae
Aquatic beetles found in mountain streams, stagnant waters
and saline pools. They are able to move about on the underside of the water
meniscus. Larvae are also aquatic and have been found to feed on
filamentous algae.
|
|
Spercheidae
Small aquatic beetles that are capable of walking on
the underside of the surface film. Three species
in a single genus (Spercheus) are known from southern Africa. |
|
Hydrochidae
Small, elongate aquatic beetles. One
known species from Southern Africa: Hydrochus capensis. |
|
Georyssidae
Small, aquatic beetles, adults living in mud and
gravel along the margins of still or slow-moving water. One
known species in southern Africa but there are evidently a number
of other undescribed species from this region. |
|
Hydrophilidae
Diverse group of mainly aquatic beetles but with
some species occupying terrestrial habitats. They range in size from
minute (1 mm long) to large (50 mm). Fewer than 100 named species are
known from South Africa but there are probably many undescribed species. |
|
|