Ecological notes on the filter-feeding water scavenger beetle, Spercheus stangli Schwarz and Barber, 1917 (Coleoptera: Spercheidae), on the Iriomote Island, Japan

Research on the filter-feeding water scavenger beetle, Spercheus stangli, reveals that it is likely bivoltine or multivoltine, meaning it can produce multiple generations per year. This finding sheds light on the species' reproductive strategy and underscores the importance of ponds with floating substrates like wood fragments as critical habitats for its conservation. The study, conducted on Iriomote Island in Japan, combined field surveys with rearing experiments to gather ecological data. Given that S. stangli is a rare species in Japan, known only from one pond, this research provides valuable insights for developing targeted conservation strategies to protect this unique and endangered beetle.

Watanabe, R., & Kitano, T. (2021). Ecological notes on the filter-feeding water scavenger beetle, Spercheus stangli Schwarz and Barber, 1917 (Coleoptera: Spercheidae), on the Iriomote Island, Japan. Aquatic Insects, 42(3-4), 230–238. https://doi.org/10.1080/01650424.2021.1933049