order
                        
                      
                                    Coleoptera
                                       “Adult Beetles”
                                  
                                    Coleoptera
                                       “Larval Beetles”
                                  
                                    Diptera
                                       “True Flies”
                                  
                                    Ephemeroptera
                                       “Mayflies”
                                  
                                    Hemiptera
                                       “True Bugs”
                                  
                                    Lepidoptera
                                       “Aquatic Caterpillars, Snout Moths”
                                  
                                    Megaloptera
                                       “Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies”
                                  
                                    Odonata
                                       “Dragonflies and Damselflies”
                                  
                                    Plecoptera
                                       “Stoneflies”
                                  
                                    Trichoptera
                                       “Caddisflies”
                                 family
                        
                     Notonectidae
               
            genus
                     Notonecta
            
               “Backswimmer”
            
      Genus Overview
                  
               
                        There are three genera in the family Notonectidae.   Notonecta contains 17 species and is the most studied.  The group is found across multiple habitats and are considered predators.  They swim upside down giving them the nickname of "backswimmers". They feed on the surface or dive down to locate prey.   Their bodies are covered with several hairs that trap air allowing them to breath underwater and swim faster.    
                  
               Characteristics
                  
               POLLUTION TOLERANCE
                        Southeast: up to 9
                                 Mid-Atlantic: 5 - 9
                              0 = least tolerant, 10 = most tolerant
                        FEEDING HABITS
                        
                                 Piercer / Predator
                        
                     MOVEMENT
                        
                                 Climber
Swimmer
                        
                     Swimmer
DISTRIBUTION
                        
                                 Widespread (east of the Rocky Mtns.)
                        
                     HABITAT
                        
                                 Lentic-littoral
Lotic-depositional
                        
                     Lotic-depositional
Diagnostic Characters
               Order
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    Hemelytra
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Needle-like Beak
                                 Family
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    Antennae Shorter than Head
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Body Convex Dorsally
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Long, Oar-like Hind Legs
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Swimming Hairs on Legs
                                 
                  + Expanded Character List
                  
                     
               
            
                        Order:
                           Adults: With or without wings. If wings present, forewings typically leathery or hard basally and translucent and flexible apically. Nymphs: With or without wing pads. Segmented legs present. Mandibles hidden within needle-like beak in adults and nymphs.
                     
                     
                        Family:
                           The mouthparts are slender, needle-like; the antennae are short and hidden from dorsal view; the body is parallel-sided and at least ¼ inch (5 mm) long; the front legs are slender; the middle and hind legs are fringed with swimming hairs; the hind legs are long and flattened, oar-like; swims upside down.
                     
                     
                        Genus:
                           Eyes not touching, without a hair-lined pit on hemelytral, antennae 4 segmented
                     
                   
                   
            Dorsal
               Ventral
               


