Beetles with wet feet: studies on Venezuelan Larainae (Coleoptera: Elmidae)

Elmidae, or riffle beetles, are aquatic beetles that live in cool, clear streams throughout the world. The family consists of two subfamilies, Elminae and Larainae. The Laraines live in the splash zones on rocks and in leaf packs at the edge of streams. These beetles are valuable for the study of water quality and can be used in biomonitoring programs.