THE NATURAL-HISTORY, DISTRIBUTION, AND LARVAL DESCRIPTION OF BRYCHIUS-HUNGERFORDI SPANGLER (COLEOPTERA, HALIPLIDAE)

Life history observations and distribution records from a 1989 survey of Brychius hungerfordi Spangler, in Michigan are presented with a larval description. This rare beetle was found in 11 sites along a 1 mile long reach of East Branch of the Maple River and at one locality in the East Branch of the Black River. It inhabits clean gravel in moderate flow, which in these streams is set up and maintained by natural and human-made retention structures. Larvae were found in association with Chara, their probable food source; adults were observed crawling over patches of gravel and appear to feed by scraping biofilm from individual pieces. Larvae are morphologically typical of the genus.