| Dryopidae | |
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| Parnida species | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Elateriformia |
| Superfamily: | Byrrhoidea |
| Family: | Dryopidae Billberg, 1820 |
Dryopidae is a family of beetles, commonly named long-toed water beetles, in the superfamily Byrrhoidea. It was described by Gustaf Johan Billberg in 1820. [1] [2]
Long-toed water beetles are named for their extended claws. Adults have dense hairs, which allow the beetles to breathe while underwater. The flight muscles of the females weaken as they age. [3]
When the pupae complete the imago stage of their life cycle, they move towards running water, and may be attracted to lights. [3]
Despite being referred to as aquatic insects, the beetles are unable to swim, [2] clinging to detritus that float. All long-toed water beetles feed on plants that are in the water, but the larvae generally are terrestrial, and at least some also feed on plant matter. Stygoparnus is the only genus in the family in which both the larvae and adults are aquatic. [2] [3] [4] [5]
Genera of the family closely resemble riffle beetles, but the antennae are different from the long-toed water beetles, looking similar to clubs. [6]
Members of this family are found on every continent, except Antarctica and Australia, being more common in the tropics. [7] In 2005, a possible fossilized specimen of Dryopidae was found in the Crato Formation by entomologists David Grimaldi and Michael S. Engel. [4]
Beetles that have water as a habitat, including long-toed water beetles, can help show the quality of fresh water. [8]
A water beetle is a generalized name for any beetle that is adapted to living in water at any point in its life cycle. Most water beetles can only live in fresh water, with a few marine species that live in the intertidal zone or littoral zone. There are approximately 2000 species of true water beetles native to lands throughout the world.
Noteridae is a family of adephagan water beetles closely related to the Dytiscidae, and formerly classified with them. They are mainly distinguished by the presence of a distinctive "noterid platform" underneath, in the form of a plate between the second and third pair of legs. The family consists of about 230 species in 14 genera, and is found worldwide, more commonly in the tropics. They are sometimes referred to as burrowing water beetles.
The Dytiscidae – based on the Greek dytikos (δυτικός), "able to dive" – are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of water beetles. They occur in virtually any freshwater habitat around the world, but a few species live among leaf litter. The adults of most are between 1 and 2.5 cm (0.4–1.0 in) long, though much variation is seen between species. The European Dytiscus latissimus and Brazilian Megadytes ducalis are the largest, reaching up to 4.5 cm (1.8 in) and 4.75 cm (1.9 in) respectively. In contrast, the smallest is likely the Australian Limbodessus atypicali of subterranean waters, which only is about 0.9 mm (0.035 in) long. Most are dark brown, blackish, or dark olive in color with golden highlights in some subfamilies. The larvae are commonly known as water tigers due to their voracious appetite. They have short, but sharp mandibles and immediately upon biting, they deliver digestive enzymes into prey to suck their liquefied remains. The family includes more than 4,000 described species in numerous genera.
The Tenebrionoidea are a very large and diverse superfamily of beetles. It generally corresponds to the Heteromera of earlier authors.
Byrrhoidea is a superfamily of beetles belonging to Elateriformia that includes several families which are either aquatic or associated with a semi-aquatic habitat. Other than the superfamily Hydrophiloidea, most of the remaining Polyphagan beetles which are aquatic are in this superfamily.
Colydiinae is a subfamily of beetles, commonly known as cylindrical bark beetles. They have been treated historically as a family Colydiidae, but have been moved into the Zopheridae, where they constitute the bulk of the diversity of the newly expanded family, with about 140 genera worldwide. They are diverse for example in the Australian region, from where about 35 genera are known; in Europe, though, only 20 genera are found and many of these only with few species.
Bothrideridae is a family of beetles in the superfamily Coccinelloidea. They are known commonly as the cocoon-forming beetles or dry bark beetles. They occur worldwide with most native to the Old World tropics. In older literature, the family was often included in the family Colydiidae, but is now considered unrelated.
Beetles of the genus Helichus are found worldwide apart from in Australia and Antarctica. Adults reach 1–8 millimetres (0.04–0.31 in) long and live in aquatic or riparian environments. The larvae are land-dwelling which may be unique in water living insects.
Scirtidae is a family of beetles (Coleoptera). These beetles are commonly referred to as marsh beetles, as the larvae are typically associated with stagnant water, but can be found in flowing water. Adults prefer decomposing plant material near the water's edge. More than an estimated 600 species are known worldwide, distributed among at least 60 genera.
Ancyronyx, commonly known as spider water beetles or spider riffle beetles, is a genus of aquatic riffle beetles from North America, South Asia, China, and Southeast Asia. They are small beetles with extremely long legs ending in strong claws. Both the adults and the larvae are found underwater in the shallow riffles of streams and rivers, clinging to rocks or submerged wood. They feed on algae and decaying wood tissue. The genus contains twenty-one species, eleven of which are endemic to the Philippines.
Elminae is a subfamily of riffle beetles in the family Elmidae. There are at least 120 genera and more than 1,300 described species in Elminae.
Elmini is a tribe of riffle beetles in the family Elmidae. There are more than 90 genera and 1,200 described species in North America.
Limnichidae, commonly called minute marsh-loving beetles, is a family of beetles belonging to Byrrhoidea. There are at least 30 genera and 350 described species in Limnichidae. They are found worldwide, with the greatest diversity in tropical regions. Most species seem to be associated with water-adjacent habitats, such as riparian and coastal locations, though many species are likely fully terrestrial, with some species being associated with leaf litter and arboreal habitats. Species with known diets feed on moss or algae. The oldest fossils of the family are known from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber from Myanmar.
Ptilodactylidae is a family of beetles belonging to the Elateriformia. There around 500 extant species in 35 genera. They are generally associated with riparian and aquatic habitats. The larvae generally live associated with rotting wood or vegetation, or within gravel and detritus on the edge of water bodies. The larvae of some species feed on submerged rotting wood or on plant roots, while the adults of some species are known to feed on fungus with modified brush-like maxillae.
Dryops is a genus of long-toed water beetles in the family Dryopidae. There are at least 20 described species in the genus Dryops.
Grouvellinus is a genus of beetle in the family Elmidae. As of 2018, over forty species are recognized, including:
Postelichus is a genus of long-toed water beetles in the family Dryopidae. There are at least four described species in Postelichus.
Larainae is a subfamily of riffle beetles in the family Elmidae. There are more than 20 genera and 160 described species in Larainae.
| Authority control databases: National |
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