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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Aquatic Bugs (Nepomorpha) » Notonectoidea » Pygmy Backswimmers (Pleidae)

Family Pleidae - Pygmy Backswimmers

water bug - Neoplea striola Pygmy backswimmer - Neoplea striola Pygmy backswimmer - Neoplea striola Pygmy Backswimmer - Neoplea striola Pleidae Pleid - Neoplea Aquatic Geocoris? - Neoplea Water Bug at Matchedash - Neoplea
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)
Superfamily Notonectoidea
Family Pleidae (Pygmy Backswimmers)
Explanation of Names
Pleidae Fieber 1817
Numbers
Two genera in NA, with 5 nominate spp. (the family is in need of revision and the real number is unknown)(1)(2); ~40 spp. in 3 genera worldwide(3)
Size
1.9‒2.3mm(1)
Identification
Minute, strongly convex, usually pale-colored bugs; hemelytra strongly sclerotized, without membrane; metatarsus with two distinct apical claws(1)(4)
protarsus in Neoplea 3-segmented (basal segment very small); in Paraplea, 2-segmented (basal segment very small)(1)
Range
worldwide and across NA(2)
Habitat
on vascular aquatic plants in standing water(2)
Food
microcrustaceans, mosquito larvae and other invertebrates(2)(4)
Remarks
poor swimmers, prefer to walk on or through thick submerged vegetation(4)
Works Cited
1.Identification manual for the aquatic and semi-aquatic Heteroptera of Florida
Epler J.H. 2006. FL Dept. Env. Prot., Tallahassee, FL. 186 pp.
2.Aquatic Insects of North America
R. W. Merritt, K. W. Cummins, M.B. Berg. 2008. Kendall/Hunt.
3.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.
4.Australian Faunal Directory
Contributed by Eric R. Eaton on 28 April, 2006 - 3:47pm
Additional contributions by v belov
Last updated 9 October, 2023 - 2:33pm

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