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 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 and 4.75 cm 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.
Copelatus is a large genus of small diving beetles. There are some 470 described species in the genus, found worldwide, but they are most diverse in tropical South America, Africa and South-East Asia. Copelatus are often black or brown in color, many species of Copelatus possessing visible longitudinal furrows down the dorsal side of the wings of both sexes.
Megadytes is a genus of diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. They are found in slow-moving or static freshwater habitats in the Neotropics. The adult beetles measure about 1.65–4.75 cm (0.6–1.9 in) long depending on the exact species and the largest is also the largest in the family.
Rhantus is a genus of beetle in family Dytiscidae. There are about 100 species distributed worldwide. They often live in pools and marshy habitat types. Several species have colonized oceanic islands and become endemics.
Cybister, is a genus of beetle in family Dytiscidae. They are found in much of the world, including all continents except Antarctica. As of 2021 there are 96 species and 9 additional subspecies among four subgenera in the genus.
Hydrodytes is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are at least three described species in Hydrodytes. It is found in North America and the Neotropics.
Neohydrocoptus is a genus of beetles in the family Noteridae, containing the following species:
Canthydrus is a genus of beetles in the family Noteridae, containing the following species:
Hydrocanthus is a genus of beetles in the family Noteridae, containing the following species:
Suphis is a genus of beetles in the family Noteridae, containing the following species:
Suphisellus is a genus of beetles in the family Noteridae.
Notomicrus is a genus of beetles in the family Noteridae, containing the following species:
Helobata is a mostly Neotropical genus of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae. It contains 13 described species, one of which is broadly distributed, reaching North America.
Liocanthydrus nanops is a species of water beetle in the family Noteridae. It is known from Paraguay and southern Brazil.
Liocanthydrus armulatus is a species of water beetle in the family Noteridae. It is only known from the state of Bolívar, Venezuela.
Hydrodytinae is a subfamily of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae. There are at least two genera and four described species in Hydrodytinae.
Epimetopidae is a family of semi-aquatic beetles belonging to the Hydrophiloidea. They are found in sand and gravel at the edges of streams, rivers and shallow freshwater ponds. These beetles are shorter than half a centimeter long and have a pronotum with a central projection forming a shelf above the head. On the underside of the abdomen only four sternites are visible. There are approximately 72 described species in three genera, Epimetopus which is restricted to the New World, mostly Neotropical, Eupotemus with two Afrotropical species and Eumetopus with some Oriental species. Females carry their eggcases on the underside of the abdomen. The larvae are probably carnivorous based on their mouthparts and likely live in the same habitats as the adults.
Globulosis is a Neotropical genus of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae represented by two described species known from the Guiana Shield Region.
Radicitus is a Neotropical genus of water scavenger beetle in the family Hydrophilidae represented by three described species known from the Guiana Shield Region.
