ENY 3005 Family Identification

Coleoptera: Gyrinidae

 Common name: whirligig beetles

Identifying characteristics for the family Gyrinidae include:

• First abdominal sternite divided by hind coxae (suborder Adephaga).
• Short, clubbed antennae.
• Seemingly 2 pairs of eyes, 1 above and 1 below the water level.
• Forelegs long and thin; middle and hind legs short and paddlelike, not extending beyond margin of abdomen (only front legs visible in dorsal view).
• body elongate-oval and flattened, 3 to 15 mm in length.
• Tarsi 5-5-5.

• Larvae are predators of other aquatic insects.
• Adults are surface dwellers and live as scavengers.
• 3 genera, about 50 species in North America.

References:

• Page 154-155 in D. J. Borror and R. E. White. 1970. A Field Guide to the Insects. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
• Pages 101-102 in R. E. White. 1983. A Field Guide to Beetles of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. 368 p.
• Page 412 in D. J. Borror, C. A. Triplehorn, and N. F. Johnson. 1989. An Introduction to the Study of Insects, 6th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders College Publishing. 875 p.
• Page 460 in H. V. Daly, J. T. Doyen, and A. H. Purcell III. 1998. Introduction to Insect Biology and Diversity, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press. 680 p.
• Page 192 in R. G. Bland and H. E. Jaques. 1978. How to Know the Insects, 3rd ed. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Co. 409 p.