Hemiptera Lab Quiz

Belostomatidae

• Giant Water Bugs

• Large size

• Cylindrical, 3 segmented beak

• Antennae not visible from top, eyes bulging

• Flat, retractile air straps on abdomen

Nepidae

• Waterscorpions

• Short antennae, not visible from dorsal

• Two long breathing tubes on abdominal apex

• Long, thin body

Macroveliidae

• Macroveliid Shore Bugs

• Long antennae

• Coxa of hindleg cyclindrical and not flattened

• Apical (at end of leg) claws, and tarsi three-segmented without spines

Gerridae

• Water Striders

• Long antennae visible dorsally

• Very long hind femur, with pre-apical (before the end of tarsus) claws

• Middle legs closer to hindlegs than forelegs

Corixidae

• Water Boatmen

• Antennae shorter than head and not visible dorsally

• Foretarsus scoop-shaped for swimming

• “Beak” short

Vellidae

• Riffle Bugs

• Long antennae visible from dorsal view

• Coxa cylindrical and not flattened

• Pre-apical claws

• Hind femur only extending slightly beyond abdomen, middle legs medially between front and hind

• Similar to Gerridae, but rounder

• Lab sp. is genus Rhagovelia, meaning it has fanned plumose hairs on legs

Notonectidae

• Backswimmers

• Antennae not visible from dorsal view

• Beak long and cylindrical

• Body rounder and small, with large and prominent hind legs

• Often dorsally darker and ventrally lighter

Pleidae

• Pygmy Backswimmers

• Extremely small, ovoid shape