Notonectoidea

Latreille, 1802

Backswimmers

Family Guides

Notonectidae(Backswimmers)
Pleidae(pygmy backswimmers)

Notonectoidea is a superfamily of aquatic true bugs (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha) comprising three : Notonectidae (backswimmers), Pleidae (pygmy backswimmers), and (small water bugs). Members are obligate aquatic characterized by swimming on their backs using their hind legs as oars. The superfamily is distinguished by specialized antennal and represents a distinct lineage within the infraorder Nepomorpha.

Damaeus by (c) Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas. Used under a CC-BY license.

Epidermoptidae by (c) Cricket Raspet, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Cricket Raspet. Used under a CC-BY license.

Psoroptidae by (c) Oleksii Vasyliuk, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Oleksii Vasyliuk. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Notonectoidea: /ˌnoʊtoʊ.nɛkˈtɔɪ.diə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from other nepomorphan superfamilies by antennal : six main types (sensilla trichodea, chaetica, campaniformia, basiconica, ampullacea, coeloconica) with ten subtypes. within Notonectoidea differ in size and : Notonectidae are larger backswimmers with prominent oar-like hind legs; Pleidae are minute (under 3 mm), rounded, and compact; are small, streamlined, and often found in flowing water. All swim side down, unlike Corixidae (water boatmen) which swim side down.

Images

Habitat

Freshwater aquatic environments. Notonectidae inhabit static waters including ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams. Pleidae occur in stagnant waters with rich vegetation. occupy lentic regions of running water as well as stagnant waters.

Distribution

distribution across multiple continents. Documented in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey (provinces: Adıyaman, Batman, Gaziantep, Diyarbakır, Mardin, Siirt, Şanlıurfa, Şırnak). Notonectidae and found in various aquatic across their ranges.

Diet

Predatory. Notonectidae hunt by sight or by detecting vibrations on the water surface. Pleidae feed on small and younger instars of their own . presumed predatory based on characteristics.

Behavior

All three swim on their backs as their primary mode of transportation. Notonectidae exhibit two distinct predatory strategies: Anisops and Buenoa employ sit-and-wait tactics followed by sudden dashes; Martarega swim against currents to locate stranded prey. swim with either venter up or venter down, rowing with hind legs; has not been observed in this family. Pleidae are capable swimmers despite possessing relatively short hind legs.

Ecological Role

in freshwater aquatic .

Similar Taxa

CorixoideaBoth are aquatic nepomorphan superfamilies, but Corixoidea (water boatmen) swim side down rather than on their backs, and possess different antennal .
NepoideaBoth are predatory aquatic superfamilies in Nepomorpha, but Nepoidea (water scorpions) possess forelegs and a terminal breathing siphon, lacking the swimming posture characteristic of Notonectoidea.

More Details

Antennal Sensilla Evolution

Cladistic analysis of antennal supports monophyly of several nepomorphan but provides only weak bootstrap support for superfamily-level clades. The presence of numerous autapomorphies in sensilla types and distribution suggests that antennal sensilla evolved independently within inner groups rather than supporting deep phylogenetic relationships.

Taxonomic Composition

Notonectoidea comprises three : Notonectidae (backswimmers), Pleidae (pygmy backswimmers), and (small water bugs). The 'backswimmers' is most frequently applied to Notonectidae but describes the shared swimming posture of all three families.