Lutrochidae
Encyclopedia
Lutrochidae is a family
of water beetle
s sometimes known as "travertine beetles", since in North America
they are common in springs and streams depositing travertine
.
They are distinguished by their ovate bodies, 2-6 mm long and yellowish in color, and short antennae
in which the first two antennomeres are longer than the others. The larvae are elongate, 4-10 mm in length, with short but well-developed legs.
Both adults and larvae are found in fast-moving water, feeding on algae and wood.
The family is known only from the New World
, and consists of 12 species in a single genus Lutrochus, although it is likely that the genus will be divided upon review. The genus has been variously classified under Dryopidae and Limnichidae, but has more recently been given its own family.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of water beetle
Water beetle
A water beetle is a beetle adapted to living in water. Water beetles rise to the water surface and take atmospheric air into their tracheal systems. There are approximately 2000 species of water beetles. The rest marine species tend to live in the intertidal zone...
s sometimes known as "travertine beetles", since in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
they are common in springs and streams depositing travertine
Travertine
Travertine is a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs, especially hot springs. Travertine often has a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan, and cream-colored varieties. It is formed by a process of rapid precipitation of calcium carbonate, often at the mouth of a hot...
.
They are distinguished by their ovate bodies, 2-6 mm long and yellowish in color, and short antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
in which the first two antennomeres are longer than the others. The larvae are elongate, 4-10 mm in length, with short but well-developed legs.
Both adults and larvae are found in fast-moving water, feeding on algae and wood.
The family is known only from the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
, and consists of 12 species in a single genus Lutrochus, although it is likely that the genus will be divided upon review. The genus has been variously classified under Dryopidae and Limnichidae, but has more recently been given its own family.
