Variegated mud-loving beetles

Code QC360000

Body elongate, 2-10 mm in length when mature. Heterocerid larvae have very short, 3 segmented antennae with a bulbous sensorium on segment 2 which is longer than the reduced third segment. Examination of the mouthparts is necessary to separate heterocerids definitively from limnichids in the key - heterocerids have well developed mandibula mola, limnichids do not; limnichids have 4 segmented maxillary palps, whilst those of heterocerids are 3-segmented. Five pairs of large, well developed and widely separated stemmata are present. Legs five segmented, well developed, the apical segment forming a single tarsungulus (claw). Body clothed with scattered, dark and erect setae. Terminal abdominal segments lacking hooks, opercula, gills and urogomphi. Segment 10 forming a conical pygopod.

Heteroceridae (Polyphaga, placed in Byrrhoidea by Australian authors, Dryopoidea by American authors) larvae and adults tunnel in the mud at the edges of ponds and streams. Larvae ingest muddy substrates from which they extract algae, diatoms and other organic material. Around 15 species occur in two genera in Australia.

References:

Lawrence, J.F. (1991) Heteroceridae (Dryopoidea) pp. 402-404. In: Stehr, F.W. (ed.) Immature Insects. Volume 2. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque, Iowa.

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