The larval groundplan of the family Hygrobiidae is provided through descriptions of internal and external features of H. hermanni (Fabricius), H. wattsiHendrich, H. australasiae (Clark). Larvae of the Australian species H. wattsi and H. australasiae are related phylogenetically by presence of a bluntly rounded mandible and by the apical position of the primary pore MNd in instar I. It is postulated: (1) hygrobiids share a monophyletic origin with Amphizoidae and Dytiscidae based on seven larval synapomorphies; (2) Hygrobiidae are more closely related to the Dytiscidae based on the presence of additional setae along the ventral margin of femur. Informal groupings with the dytiscid subfamilies Matinae and Hydroporinae are apparent based on larval morphology.
Species 1: Coleoptera Hygrobiidae Hygrobia hermanni (squeak beetles)
Species 2: Coleoptera Hygrobiidae Hygrobia wattsi (squeak beetles)
Species 3: Coleoptera Hygrobiidae Hygrobia australasiae (squeak beetles)
Keywords: Adephaga, larval morphology
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