water scavenger beetle

(Tropisternus spp.)

Overview
water scavenger beetle (Tropisternus sp.)
Photo by Bill Reynolds
 

The species Tropisternus lateralis is one of the first water scavenger beetles (family Hydrophilidae) to colonize newly formed bodies of water.

Adults feed on algae, animal remains, and other biological material.

 

 

     
           
 
Description
 
 

Adults are 5 16 to ½ in length.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

24, 27, 29, 30, 82.

 
  8/31/2021      
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Coleoptera (beetles)  
 

Suborder

Polyphaga (water, rove, scarab, long-horned, leaf and snout beetles)  
 

Infraorder

Staphyliniformia  
 

Superfamily

Hydrophiloidea (water scavenger and clown beetles)  
 

Family

Hydrophilidae (water scavenger beetles)  
 

Subfamily

Hydrophilinae  
 

Tribe

Hydrophilini  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

water scavenger beetle (Tropisternus blatchleyi)

water scavenger beetle (Tropisternus collaris)

water scavenger beetle (Tropisternus columbianus)

water scavenger beetle (Tropisternus ellipticus)

water scavenger beetle (Tropisternus glabver)

water scavenger beetle (Tropisternus lateralis)

water scavenger beetle (Tropisternus mixtus)

water scavenger beetle (Tropisternus natator)

water scavenger beetle (Tropisternus quadristriatus)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Cyphostethus

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

Though common, this genus has no common name. The common name of the family Hydrophilidae is water scavenger beetles, and it is applied here for convenience.

 
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Bill Reynolds

 
  Found the Water Beetle (Tropisternus) just laying out on a piece of cardboard. I left the quote marks in the background for reference. They are only 5/32" tall.   water scavenger beetle (Tropisternus sp.)  
           
        water scavenger beetle (Tropisternus sp.)  
           
 
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Other Videos
 
  Water Scavenger Beetle (Hydrophilidae: Tropisternus lateralis) in Hand
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
About

Published on Apr 26, 2011

Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (26 April 2011).

 
       

 

Camcorder

 
 
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  Bill Reynolds
8/10/2017

Location: Pennington Co MN

Found the Water Beetle (Tropisternus) just laying out on a piece of cardboard. I left the quote marks in the background for reference. They are only 5/32" tall.

water scavenger beetle (Tropisternus sp.)  
           
 
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