Naucoridae

Ilyocoris cimicoides, in a dried up pond

Swimming bugs ( Naucoridae ) are a family of bugs (Heteroptera ) in the partial order of the water bugs ( Nepomorpha ). They are found worldwide, with over 300 species, their main distribution area are the tropics. The swimming bugs are closely related to the basic bugs ( Aphelocheiridae ).

Characteristics and lifestyle

See the adult bugs from the face of yellow edge beetles species very similar. Swimming bugs have very short, roundish and flattened body and very short, not visible from above sensor and an equally very short, tripartite proboscis. Do not have simple eyes ( ocelli ) and her tag ( scutellum ) is also very small. On the legs they wear swimming hairs on the middle legs they grow a little less dense. These swimming legs they can quickly and skillfully moves in the water. The front legs of the animals are converted to catch legs with thickened legs ( femur) and hook-shaped rails ( tibia), so they can catch and hold their prey. The feet ( tarsi ) are more or less reduced. Her half ceilings ( Hemielytren ) are fully developed. Swimming bugs have unlike many other water bugs no breathing tube at the end of the abdomen. The air reservoir is worn under the elytra and underside of the body.

The animals live in stagnant water and feed on prey on various small invertebrates. Full-grown swimming bugs also feed on larger prey, such as amphibian larvae and small fish. The trick with the trunk can be quite painful for humans. The mating season the males produce Stridulationslaute.

Species

In Europe, only two species are known: Ilyocoris cimicoides (Linnaeus, 1758) and Naucoris maculatus Fabricius, 1798, of which only the former is present in Central Europe.

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