THE XERCES SOCIETY FOR INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION

Aquatic Invertebrates in Pacific Northwest Freshwater Wetlands
An Identification Guide and Educational Resource

Larvae and adult Sphaerius are only semiaquatic. They inhabit wet places like bogs and the edges of rivers and streams and may be found in leaf litter, mud, mosses or among plant roots.

The larvae are tiny (<1mm) and have small lobes on the sides of every abdominal segment. The 2nd segment of each antenna has a tiny filament that sticks out to the side. The adults are oval, convex, and glossy; their antennae are short and tipped with small round clubs. Thin plates on the underside of the thorax cover much of the underside of the first few abdominal segments. Haliplidae have similar plates but theirs are much larger and cover all of the underside of at least the first two abdominal segments.

The photos above were used with permission from photographer David Maddison. All rights are reserved with the photographer. The image appears on the Tree Of Life website (outside link).