Family: Hydrophilidae
Subfamily: Hydrophilinae
Length: 2-3 mm
The identification of Water Scavenger Beetles does present its challenges. Still, three traits that will suggest genus Laccobius are: bowed hind tibiae, spotted elytra, and a small size.
The beetle shown here measured 2.8 mm, and seemed able to "swim" on the shallow film of water on a rock pulled out of the river. The location was the base of Seneca Rocks in Pendleton County.
Insects of West Virginia
