The comal springs dryopid beetle, stygoparnus comalensis (barr and spangler, 1992) is a troglobitic beetle in the family dryopidae (coleoptera) known primarily from comal springs, comal county, texas,…

The comal springs dryopid beetle, stygoparnus comalensis (barr and spangler, 1992) is a troglobitic beetle in the family dryopidae (coleoptera) known primarily from comal springs, comal county, texas, USA, but has also been collected from several springs in hays county, texas (gibson ET AL., 2008). This species is protected by the US fish and wildlife service (USFWS) and has 22 HA of designated critical habitat (USFWS, 1997, 2013). Like many other species in the edwards aquifer, s. Comalensis faces numerous threats to their ecosystem, especially, over pumping of water, pollution, and competition from the introduction of exotic species (bowles and arsuffi 1993). Having functional refuges that contain self propagating captive populations of s. Comalensis is a goal of the edwards aquifer habitat conservation plan (eahcp) and a better understanding of this species habitat and life histories is essential for meeting that goal. The overall goal of this project is to develop a better understanding of the habitat needs and growth of the comal springs dryopid beetle (stygoparnus comalensis).explicit objectives 1.have more definitive estimates of larval GROWTH2.design and implement the best aquaria for maintaining all life stagesanother major component, but not a direct objective, will be to expand the collection range.expected benefit to the refugiagain a better understanding of the life history needs of stygoparnus comalensis and help determine a housing capable of maintaining standing stock of a captive self propagating colony for refuge purposes.