Haliplidae; crawling water beetle

Japanese: コガシラミズムシ（英語表記）Haliplidae; crawling water beetle

A general term for insects of the Coleoptera family, Peltodytes. Small aquatic beetles, mostly around 3mm in length. They have a body shape similar to that of a diving beetle, with the hind leg basal segments reaching the upper wings, and all antennae segments covered with fine hairs, but the rear edge of the hind leg basal segments is significantly expanded and plate-like, covering the 2nd to 3rd abdominal segments at the base, so they can be distinguished from diving beetles. They live in still water such as ponds and swamps, and both adults and larvae feed on algae. The small water beetle Peltodytes intermedius is around 3.5mm in length, with a yellowish brown body with black spots and dots, and a shiny appearance. It has a small head, and the tips of the upper wings are pointed. It is distinguished from other species by the sharp teeth that protrude from the rear edge of the hind leg basal plate. It is found throughout Japan, and is commonly seen in ponds and rice paddies on flat land.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

鞘翅目コガシラミズムシ科の昆虫の総称。小型の水生甲虫で，体長 3mm内外のものが多い。ゲンゴロウに似たからだつきで後肢基節は上翅に達し，また触角は全節が微毛におおわれているが，後肢基節の後縁が著しく広がって板状になり，基部の2～3腹節をおおっているのでゲンゴロウと区別できる。池や沼などの止水にすみ，成虫，幼虫ともに藻類を食べる。コガシラミズムシ Peltodytes intermediusは体長 3.5mm内外，体は黄褐色で黒色の斑紋や点刻があり，光沢がある。頭部は小さく，上翅先端はとがる。後肢基節板の後縁は鋭い歯になって突出しているので他種から区別される。日本全土に産し，平地の池や水田に普通にみられる。

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