Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 35/2. (2015)

Zoology

AQUATIC BEETLES FAUNA (COLEOPTERA: GYRINIDAE, HALIPLIDAE, NOTERIDAE, DYTISCIDAE AND HYDROPHILIDAE) FROM THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Natalia MUNTEANU MOLOTIEVSKIY1, Svetlana BACAL1-2,

Oxana MUNJIU1, Anna MOLDOVAN1

1 Institute of Zoology, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, 1 Academiei str., MD—2028 Chisinau,

Republic of Moldova

2 Institute of Ecology and Geography, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, 1 Academiei str., MD-2028 Chisinäu, Republic of Moldova

Abstract: The paper presents the list of the species of Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, Noteridae, Dytiscidae and Hydrophilidae families of aquatic beetles from the Republic of Moldova. The 59 species belong to 35 genera and 9 subfamilies. The list is based on literature sources, collections and faunistic studies made by the authors.

Keywords: Aquatic beetles, Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, Noteridae, Dytiscidae,

Hydrophilidae, Republic of Moldova.

Introduction

Beetles represent one of the largest orders among aquatic animals (Jach, Balke, 2008). Aquatic beetle fauna in the Republic of Moldova is still poorly known. The families Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, Noteridae and Dytiscidae belong to Caraboidea superfamily, suborder Adephaga and the Hydrophilidae family belongs to Hydrophiloidea superfamily, suborder Polyphaga.

In the world fauna about 750 species from 13 genera of Gyrinidae are known, mostly from tropical region. Adults and larvae of all species are strictly aquatic. The majority of the Gyrinidae species lives in running water (Beutel, Roughley, 2005; Mazzoldi, 1995). The European fauna of Gyrinidae is represented by one subfamily Gyrininae and two genera Aulonogyrus and Gyrinus, both present in the Republic of Moldova as well.

About 200 species in five genera are known for Haliplidae family all over the world, but more diverse in the northern temperate regions. Larvae and adults of Haliplidae species are truly aquatic. They prefer mainly stagnant water but some species are found in lotic habitats (Vondel, 2005). In Europe only three genera are known, two of them Peltodytes and Haliplus are found in the Republic of Moldova.

Altogether 250 species in three subfamilies and 14 genera have been described for Noteridae family. Adults and larvae are aquatic. Noteridae are commonly found in stagnant water between roots of water plants (Nilsson, 2005). European fauna is represented by one subfamily Noterinae and two genera. Only one genus Noterus was found in the Republic of Moldova.

M A RI S I A, XXXV, p. 95-106