order
Coleoptera
“Adult Beetles”
Coleoptera
“Larval Beetles”
Diptera
“True Flies”
Ephemeroptera
“Mayflies”
Hemiptera
“True Bugs”
Lepidoptera
“Aquatic Caterpillars, Snout Moths”
Megaloptera
“Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies”
Odonata
“Dragonflies and Damselflies”
Plecoptera
“Stoneflies”
Trichoptera
“Caddisflies”
family
Hydrophilidae
genus
Berosus
“Water Scavenger Beetle Larvae”
Genus Overview
This genus has 24 species in North America. Larvae are easily recognized by the lateral filaments on the abdomen. They tend to be found along the edges of streams and rivers.
Characteristics
POLLUTION TOLERANCE
Southeast: 8.6 and higher
Midwest: 6.7 and higher
FEEDING HABITS
Engulfer / Predator
MOVEMENT
Climber
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread (east of the Rocky Mtns.)
HABITAT
Lentic-littoral
Lotic-depositional
Lotic-depositional
Diagnostic Characters
order
Eye Spots
Lateral Gills USUALLY Absent
USUALLY 4-5-Segmented Legs
+ Expanded Character List
Order:
Larvae: Usually without lateral abdominal gills. If gills present, then 4 hooks clustered on segment 10. Thoracic legs each usually with 4 or 5 segments and with 1 or 2 claws; if without legs, head distinctly sclerotized and posterior body (thorax and abdomen) simple, without gills, hair brushes, suckers, or breathing tube. Eye spots usually present, but compound eyes absent.
Family:
Each mandible with 1 to 3 teeth along inner margin. Labrum and clypeus not separated by distinct suture. Antennae each 2- or 3-segmented. Head with simple-eyes in groups of 5. Legs each 3- or 4-segmented, with single claw; legs adapted for walking, sometimes small. Thoracic tergites clearly defined. Abdominal tergites without dorsal lobes. Abdomen usually 8-segmented. Body roughly cylindrical or spindle-shaped, not markedly thick. Head and legs visible in dorsal view.
Genus:
only genus with lateral filaments.
Dorsal
Ventral