Hydrophilus piceus
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Subkingdom: | Eumetazoa |
| Superphylum: | Ecdysozoa |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Hexapoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Subclass: | Pterygota |
| Infraclass: | Neoptera |
| Superorder: | Endopterygota |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Staphyliniformia |
| Superfamily: | Hydrophiloidea |
| Family: | Hydrophilidae |
| Subfamily: | Hydrophilinae |
| Tribe: | Hydrophilini |
| Genus: | Hydrophilus |
| Subgenus: | Hydrophilus |
Hydrophilus piceus, common name Great Silver Water Beetle, is a species of water scavenger beetles belonging to the Hydrophilidae family.
Hydrophilus piceus is one of the larger water beetles, reaching a length of about 40 millimetres (1.6 in). The body is completely black, with red antennae. These beetles have needle-sharp spurs on their tibia. The adults are mainly vegetarian, while the larvae are carnivorous, feeding on tadpoles and snails.
This species is present in most of Europe, in the East Palearctic ecozone and in the Near East. It is doubtful on Balearic Islands.
Synonyms: Hydrophilus angustior, Hydrophilus niger, Hydrophilus ruficornis, Hydrophilus viridicollis, Hydrous piceus, Hydrous turkestanus, Stethoxus plicifer.
Common name(s): Great Silver Water Beetle
Hydrophilus piceus is one of the larger water beetles, reaching a length of about 40 millimetres (1.6 in). The body is completely black, with red antennae. These beetles have needle-sharp spurs on their tibia. The adults are mainly vegetarian, while the larvae are carnivorous, feeding on tadpoles and snails.
This species is present in most of Europe, in the East Palearctic ecozone and in the Near East. It is doubtful on Balearic Islands.
Synonyms: Hydrophilus angustior, Hydrophilus niger, Hydrophilus ruficornis, Hydrophilus viridicollis, Hydrous piceus, Hydrous turkestanus, Stethoxus plicifer.
Common name(s): Great Silver Water Beetle
Sightings Heatmap
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