Name
Notonecta
backswimmer, garapito
Framing
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Hexapoda
Subclass: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Genus: Notonecta
Habitat
Freshwater. Nectonic.
Feeding
Predator. Fluidophagous carnivore
Distribution
All of Europe and some species spread over other areas.
Conservation status
No threats
Additional information
It swims on its back, using its long, rather hairy hind legs as paddles. They breathe through a bubble that they renew when they come to the surface. Antennae hidden in pits. Hemelytra and second pair of membranous wings. Excellent fliers.
Additional information
Bibliography
Goula, M., Mata, L. Hemiptera. Heteroptera. 2015. Revista Ide@, 53: 1-30. Accesible en: http://sea-entomologia.org/IDE@/revista_53.pdf, Taybi, A. F., Mabrouki, Y., Bozdoğan, H., & Millán, A. (2021). Are aquatic Hemiptera good indicators of environmental river conditions?. Aquatic Ecology, 1-16.