Water Penny Beetles

Benthic Macroinvertebrates

Sensitive Benthos

Moderately Tolerant Benthos

Pollution Tolerant Benthos

Water penny larvae and adult

Metamorphosis:

complete (see our life cycle page for more information)

Larvae:

resemble circular encrustations on rocks; sucker-like; colored green, black, but usually tan or brown; length usually no more than 1/2 inch.

Reproduction:

adult females crawl into water and deposit eggs on undersides of stones.

Adults:

typical beetle shaped-body; resemble an extremely large riffle beetle (not truly aquatic; can be found on emergent rocks in riffles).

Food:

primarily plant debris such as algae and diatoms.

Water Penny Beetle larvae - photo by Wayne Davis

Scientific Name:

Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera (beetles)
Family: Psephenidae

Indicator Role:

indicates ample supply of oxygen, and fast flow of water.

Information Source:

McDonald, B., W. Borden, J. Lathrop.1990. Citizen Stream Monitoring: A Manual for Illinois. Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, ILENR/RE-WR-90/18. Springfield, Illinois.