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Infraorder Nepomorpha - Aquatic Bugs

Water Boatman P. femoratus? - Pelocoris femoratus ID help - Ranatra buenoi Giant Water Bug - Abedus herberti - male Giant Water Bug - Lethocerus medius Backswimmer - Notonecta Backswimmer - Notonecta uhleri Unknown - Nerthra fuscipes Velvety Shore Bug - Ochterus banksi
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Infraorder Nepomorpha (Aquatic Bugs)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Hydrocorysae
Explanation of Names
Nepomorpha Popov 1968
Numbers
~230 spp. in 36 genera of 8 families in our area, >2,300 spp. in 140 genera of 11 families worldwide(1)
Identification
antennae very short and concealed under the eyes; forelegs are raptorial in most families, other legs are modified for swimming (except in the riparian Ochteroidea)(1)
Habitat
aquatic, except for the riparian Ochteroidea(1)
Food
predators, except for some Corixidae that feed on algae(1)
Remarks
most come to lights
Print References
(2)(3)
Works Cited
1.Biodiversity of the Heteroptera
Henry T.J. 2009. In: Foottit R.G., Adler P.H., eds. Insect biodiversity: Science and society. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell: 223−263.
2.Encyclopedia of South American aquatic insects: Hemiptera-Heteroptera: illustrated keys to known families, genera, and species
Heckman C.W. 2011. Springer. ix+679 pp.
3.Aquatic Insects of California
Robert L. Usinger, Editor. 1956. University of California Press.