Sphaeridiinae

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Classis: Insecta
Cladus: Dicondylia
Subclassis: Pterygota
Cladus: Metapterygota
Infraclassis: Neoptera
Cladus: Eumetabola
Cladus: Endopterygota
Superordo: Coleopterida
Ordo: Coleoptera
Subordo: Polyphaga
Infraordo: Staphyliniformia
Superfamilia: Hydrophiloidea

Familia: Hydrophilidae
Subfamilia: Sphaeridiinae
Tribus (5): Coelostomatini – Megasternini – Omicrini – Protosternini – Sphaeridiini

source: Short & Fikáček (2013)]
Overview of genera

Badioglobus – Chimaerocyon –
Name

Sphaeridiinae Latreille, 1802

References

Fikáček, M. 2010: Hydrophilidae: Sphaeridiinae (Coleoptera). Pp. 323-364 in: Jäch, M.A. & Balke, M. (eds.): Water beetles of New Caledonia (part 1). Monographs on Coleoptera, 3. ISSN: 1027-8869 PDF
Hansen, M. 1990: Australian Sphaeridiinae (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae): a taxonomic outline with descriptions of new genera and species. Invertebrate taxonomy, 4: 317–395. DOI: 10.1071/IT9900317
Hansen, M. 1997: Synopsis of the endemic New Zealand genera of the beetle subfamily Sphaeridiinae (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae). New Zealand journal of zoology, 24: 351–370. DOI: 10.1080/03014223.1997.9518130
Latreille, P.A. 1802: Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière des Crustacés et des Insectes. Tome 3. F. Dufart, Paris. Internet Archive BHL
I.Löbl & A.Smetana (eds). 2004 Catalogue of Palearctic Coleoptera. Vol. 2: Hydrophiloidea-Staphylinoidea.
Apollo Books, Stenstrup, Denmark ISBN 87-88757-74-9, p. 60
Short, A.E.Z.; Fikáček, M. 2013: Molecular phylogeny, evolution and classification of the Hydrophilidae (Coleoptera). Systematic entomology 38(4): 723-752. DOI: 10.1111/syen.12024 Reference page.

Sphaeridiinae is a subfamily of water scavenger beetles (insects in the family Hydrophilidae). Some species live in fresh water as both larvae and adults.[1]

Habitat

Sphaeridiinae is a subfamily of Hydrophilidae that is considered mostly terrestrial compared to the other aquatic subfamilies in the larger overarching family of Hydrophilidae. There have been some instances of this subfamily living in riparian habitats or floating vegetation, however, this subfamily is not constrained to aquatic ecosystems.[2] In general, Hydrophilidae species have larvae that are aquatic or terrestrial and the adults are mainly aquatic.[3] In Sphaeridiinae's case, there has been a trend for it to colonize on solely moist terrestrial land, including places of decomposition.[2]
Reproductive behavior

The larvae stages of this subfamily also develop in moist areas like dung, decomposing fungi and plant material and moist soil. The adults also came back to fresh manure to lay their eggs.[2] In addition, Sphaeridiinae tend to lay fewer eggs than the whole family Hydrophilidae due to its habitat and the cannibalistic nature of the larvae.[2]
References

Henri., Tachet (2000). Invertébrés d'eau douce : systématique, biologie, écologie [Fresh water invertebrates : systematics, biology, ecology]. Richoux, Philippe., Bournaud, Michel., Usseglio-Polatera, Philippe. Paris: CNRS Editions. ISBN 2271057450. OCLC 44405222.
Archangelsky, Miguel (1999). "Adaptations of Immature Stages of Sphaeridiinae (Staphyliniformia, Hydrophiloidea: Hydrophilidae) and State of Knowledge of Preimaginal Hydrophilidae". The Coleopterists Bulletin. 53 (1): 64–79. ISSN 0010-065X. JSTOR 4009292.
"LIFE HISTORY, BEHAVIOR AND MORPHOLOGY OF THE IMMATURE STAGES OF ENOCHRUS QUADRIPUNCTATUS HERBST IN THE LABORATORY (COLEOPTERA: HY DROPHILIDAE) 11- MORPHOLOGY". Journal of Sciences, Islamic Republic of Iran. 6 (4). 1995-12-01. ISSN 1016-1104.