Crawling water beetles

Code QC060000

Elongate, parallel sided larvae, ranging from 5-12 mm in length when mature. Australian haliplids are readily identified by the greatly elongated terminal (10th) abdominal segment which lacks spiracles at the apex, postero-lateral protuberances from each abdominal segment and the single claw (tarsungulus) on each leg, which distinguishes them from the similar Hygrobiidae which have two claws per leg. Abdominal segments otherwise without hooks, urogomphi or gills, though often densely setose. Prothorax with 3 pairs of gills, meso and metathorax each with 2 pairs. Antennae short and three segmented.

Haliplidae (suborder Adephaga) are represented in Australia by Haliplus , with 5 species. They occur in aquatic vegetation at edges of ponds, lakes and slow streams, generally feeding on stoneworts (Charophyceae) and other kinds of green algae. On being caught, haliplid larvae first feign death and then crawl very slowly, thus they may easily be missed in aquatic samples containing much debris.

References:

Lawrence, J.F. and Britton, E.B. (1991) Coleoptera. pp. 543-683. In: CSIRO, Insects of Australia. Volume 2. Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Victoria.

Spangler, P.J. (1991) Haliplidae (Adephaga). pp. 311-312. In: Stehr, F.W. (ed.) Immature Insects. Volume 2. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque, Iowa.