Seepage habitats

Seepage (hygropetric) habitats alias "wet rock" places provide a particularly interesting microhabitat that harbours a distinct and often unique fauna. The "wet rock" places are characterised by a thin film of water running (sometimes very slowly) over a rock that gets overgrown with algae or some higher plants. Various minute beetles may live among the algae or under leaves that stick to the wet rock (in southern India I frequently found e.g. Hydroscapha, Hydraena, Davidraena, Gondraena and some Hydrophilidae in this way); it is often necessary to pick up the beetles directly from the rock with fine forceps. A small puddle or an accumulation of plant debris that often forms at the base of such a place may also provide exciting collecting opportunity. Habitats of hygropetric nature may also form along larger waterfalls, although I never collected much in them - perhaps I didn't find the right place.