Abstract
Adult water beetles were collected from 841 localities in the Netherlands. The distribution maps of the three species of the genus Helochares (Coleoptera; Hydrophilidae) in the Netherlands are given. They are based on specimens from museum collections and this investigation. H. lividus occurs all over the Netherlands, except for the north-east. This northern limit of its European distribution area coincides with the 8.5°C isotherm for the mean year temperature. H. obscurus is limited in its distribution to clay and peat-bog, but in the sandy coastal dune area H. obscurus replaces H. punctatus. H. punctatus is limited in its distribution to soils consisting of peat-moor or sand, but it is absent from the coastal dune area.
Co-existence of H. lividus with either H. obscurus or H. punctatus occurs regularly. Co-existence of H. obscurus and H. punctatus has been observed only once, these species exclude each other by different ecological requirements.
H. lividus and H. obscurus show two optima in abundance during the year which corresponds with a univoltine life-cycle. H. punctatus shows no clear maximum in abundance. However, on the basis of the presence of females carrying egg-cases and the presence of teneral adults a univoltine life-cycle for all three Helochares spp. can be deduced. A small proportion of the beetles hibernates either as larva or as pupa and emerges in spring.
The distribution of Helochares spp. has been related to some environmental variables using the Index of Representation. H. lividus has a clear preference for waters with a high pH, high conductivity and high chlorinity with a luxurious vegetation of floating leaved and submerged plants on mineral soils. Occasionally running waters or waters with a low current velocity are preferred. Preferred habitats are regulated lowland streams, clay- and sand-ditches, and clay- and sand-canals.
H. obscurus has a clear preference for stagnant waters with a high pH, high conductivity and high chlorinity (but the optimum is lower than for H. lividus) with a luxurious vegetation of floating leaved and submerged plants. Preferred habitats are clay- and sand-ditches.
H. punctatus has a very clear preference for waters with a low pH, low conductivity and low chlorinity. With respect to vegetation and type of current the species shows no significant preferences or aversions. Preferred habitats are moorland pools, peat-canals and peat-cuttings.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cuppen, J. G. M., 1983. On the habitats of three species of the genus Hygrotus Stephens (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae). Freshwat. Biol. 13: 579–588.
Dettner, K., 1976. Populationsdynamische Untersuchungen an Wasserkäfern zweier Hochmoore des Nordschwarzwaldes. Arch. Hydrobiol.77: 375–402.
Everts, E., 1903. Coleoptera Neerlandica. De schildvleugelige insekten van Nederland en het omringende gebied, 1. Martinus Nijhoff, 's Gravenhage, 676 pp.
Fernando, C. H., 1958. The colonization of small freshwater habitats by aquatic insects, 1. General discussion, methods and colonization in the aquatic Coleoptera. Ceylon J. Sci. 1: 117–154.
Foster, G. N., 1982. Musical Helochares. Balfour-Browne Club Newsl. 25: 1–3.
Freude, H., K. W. Harde & G. A. Lohse, 1965. Die Käfer Mitteleuropas, 1. Goecke & Evers Verlag, Krefeld, 214 pp.
Galewski, K., 1971. A study on morphobiotic adaptations of European species of the Dytiscidae (Coleoptera). Pol. Pismo Ent. 41: 487–702.
Hansen, M., 1982. Revisional notes on some European Helochares Muls. (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae). Ent. Scand. 13: 201–211.
Hildrew, A. G. & C. R. Townsend, 1976. The distribution of two predators and their prey in an iron rich stream. J. anim. Ecol. 45: 41–57.
Jackson, D. J., 1952. Observations on the capacity for flight of water beetles. Proc. ent. Soc. Lond. 27: 57–70.
Jackson, D. J., 1956. The capacity for flight of certain water beetles and its bearing on their origin in the western Scottich isles. Proc. linn. Soc. Lond. 167: 76–96.
Jackson, D. J., 1973. The influence of flight capacity on the distribution of aquatic Coleoptera in Fife and Kinross-shire. Ent. Gaz. 24: 247–293.
Landin, J., 1976. Seasonal patterns in abundance of water beetles belonging to the Hydrophiloidea (Coleoptera). Freshwat. Biol. 6: 89–108.
Landin, J., 1980. Habitats, life histories, migration and dispersal by flight of two water-beetles Helophorus brevipalpis and H. strigifrons (Hydrophilidae). Holarct. Ecol. 3: 190–201.
Meyer, W. & K.Dettner, 1981. Untersuchungen zur Ökologie und Bionomie von Wasserkäfern der Drover Heide bei Düren (Rheinland). Decheniana 134: 274–291.
d'Orchymont, A., 1943. Notes sur quelques Helochares (s. str.) (Coleoptera Palpicornia Hydrophilidae). Bull. Mus. r. Hist. nat. Belg. 19: 1–8.
Panzera, O., 1932. Descrizione delle larve di Helochares griseus Fabr. e H. lividus Forst. (Coleoptera-Hydrophilidae). Mem. Soc. ent. Ital. 11: 52–63.
Strand, A., 1964. Om Helochares lividus Forst. og H. obscurus Müll. (Col., Hydrophilidae). Norsk ent. Tidsskr. 12: 235–237.
Tolkamp, H. H., 1980. Organism-substrate relationships in lowland streams. Agric. Res. Rep. 907. Pudoc, Wageningen, 211 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cuppen, J.G.M. On the habitats, distribution and life-cycles of the Western European species of the genus Helochares Mulsant (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae). Hydrobiologia 131, 169–183 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006780
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006780