Hydroscaphidae

The Hydroscaphidae are a small family of water beetles known commonly as skiff beetles.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> As of 2010, there are 23 species in the family.<ref name=fala>Template:Cite journal</ref> Several are recently described.

These beetles are small, most under Template:Cvt in length. They are tan to brown in color and the elytra are abbreviated, leaving several tapering tergites of the abdomen exposed. The wings are fringed with long setae. The larvae are fusiform, with a wide thorax and a narrowing abdomen.<ref name=fala/>

Hydroscaphidae live on mats of algae with a thin layer of running water. This may be the accumulated algae lining the very edge of a stream of water.<ref name=fik>Template:Cite journal</ref> They tolerate a wide range of temperatures; they have been observed in hot springs and in icy snowmelt. The algae are their food source.<ref name=fala/>

The reproductive cycle is not well known. In at least one species, the female lays a single large egg on the algal mat.<ref name=fala/>

Hydroscaphid species have been reported from every continent except Antarctica.

Genera:<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

• Hydroscapha LeConte, 1874 – United States and Europe.
• Scaphydra Reichardt, 1973 – Brazil.
• Yara Reichardt & Hinton, 1976 – South America and Central America.
• Confossa Short, Joly, García & Maddison, 2015 – South America<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Further reading

• Template:Cite book

External links

• Hydroscaphidae. Tree of Life.