order
Coleoptera
“Adult Beetles”
Coleoptera
“Larval Beetles”
Diptera
“True Flies”
Ephemeroptera
“Mayflies”
Hemiptera
“True Bugs”
Lepidoptera
“Aquatic Caterpillars, Snout Moths”
Megaloptera
“Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies”
Odonata
“Dragonflies and Damselflies”
Plecoptera
“Stoneflies”
Trichoptera
“Caddisflies”
family
Haliplidae
genus
Peltodytes
“Crawling Water Beetle Larvae”
Genus Overview
At least 18 species of this widespread genus occur in different regions of North America. Larvae and adults are piercing and shredding herbivores and predators, living mostly in lentic habitats, clinging and climbing on rooted plants, occasionally in fast-flowing water.
Characteristics
POLLUTION TOLERANCE
Southeast: 8.5 and higher
Midwest: 7 and higher
Mid-Atlantic: 5 and higher
FEEDING HABITS
Engulfer / Predator
Piercer / Herbivore
Shredder / Herbivore
Piercer / Herbivore
Shredder / Herbivore
MOVEMENT
Climber
Clinger
Clinger
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread (east of the Rocky Mtns.)
HABITAT
Lentic-littoral
Lotic-erosional
Lotic-erosional
Diagnostic Characters
Order
Eye Spots
Lateral Gills USUALLY Absent
USUALLY 4-5-Segmented Legs
Family
5-Segmented Legs + Claw
Dorsal Projections
+ Expanded Character List
Order:
Larvae: Usually without lateral abdominal gills. If gills present, then 4 hooks clustered on segment 10. Thoracic legs each usually with 4 or 5 segments and with 1 or 2 claws; if without legs, head distinctly sclerotized and posterior body (thorax and abdomen) simple, without gills, hair brushes, suckers, or breathing tube. Eye spots usually present, but compound eyes absent.
Family:
Mandibles with groove along the internal margin. Legs 5-segmented and with single claw. Mature larvae usually with long, slender, stiff, needle-like dorsal projections from thoracic and abdominal segments. Abdomen 9–10 segmented; hooks absent from terminal segments.
Genus:
Body segments each with 2 or more erect, segmented, hollow, spine-tipped filaments half as long as body. Forelegs designed for grasping plants and prey.
Lateral