Noteridae
Noteridae is a family of 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.
| Noteridae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Noterus clavicornis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Adephaga |
| Family: | Noteridae C. G. Thomson, 1860 |
These beetles are relatively small, ranging from 1 to 6 mm, with smooth oval bodies ranging from light brown to a darker reddish brown. The head is short and somewhat covered by the prothorax.
Both adults and larvae are aquatic, and are commonly found around plants. They have a habit of burrowing through pond and marsh substrate, thus the common name, and are primarily carnivorous, with some scavenging observed.
Genera
Noteridae contains the following genera:
- Canthydrus Sharp, 1882
- Hydrocanthus Say, 1823
- Mesonoterus Sharp, 1882
- Neohydrocoptus Satô, 1972
- Noterus Clairville, 1806
- Notomicrus Sharp, 1882
- Phreatodytes Uéno, 1957
- Pronoterus Sharp, 1882
- Renotus Guignot, 1936
- Siolius J.Balfour-Browne, 1969
- Speonoterus Spangler, 1996
- Suphis Aubé, 1836
- Suphisellus Crotch, 1873
- Synchortus Sharp, 1882
References
- Nilsson, Anders N. (2006). “A World Catalogue of the Family Noteridae, or the Burrowing Water Beetles (Coleoptera, Adephaga).” University of Umea, Sweden. Retrieved on 10 May 2012.
- R. E. Roughley, "Noteridae", in Ross H. Arnett, Jr. and Michael C. Thomas, American Beetles (CRC Press, 2001), vol. 1