Taxonomy of the Hydrophilid beetles genus Dactylosternum and Coelostoma (Fam.
Sphaeridinae Tribe-Sphaerinini ) with special reference to the external genital organs.
Shiv Kumar Saroj
A B S T R A C T
In this study the aquatic Coleoptera species collected form various places of Uttar Pradesh and
Uttrakhand states province in 1990 were evaluated. Over all 2 genera and 4 species concerning
the super family Hydrophiloidea (Coleoptera: sphaeridinae) were detected in the area. The
present investigation is mainly based on taxonomy of Hydrophilid beetles with special reference
to their genetalia. The previous classifications of these beetles were based on the experimental
genital characters like colour marking, wings venation, number of segment of antennae, shape
of elytra etc. But in recent investigations, it is found that beside the above taxonomical characters
the very important.The taxonomical characters are the external genital organs which are
neglected so far to be a very important and non changeable characters on which the correct
key for the identification can be made.
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