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
Veliidae
genus
Microvelia
“Riffle Bugs”
Genus Overview
20 species in North America.
Characteristics
POLLUTION TOLERANCE
FEEDING HABITS
Piercer / Predator
MOVEMENT
Skater
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread (east of the Rocky Mtns.)
HABITAT
Lentic-limnetic
Lotic-depositional
Lotic-depositional
Diagnostic Characters
Order
Hemelytra
Needle-like Beak
Family
Anteapical Claws
Antennae Longer Than Head
Hind Femora Short
+ 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:
Head with visible gula (suborder Heteroptera). Antennae longer than head, positioned anterior to eyes, clearly visible from dorsal side. Dorsum of head typically with median longitudinal sulcus or smooth stripe. At least front tarsi with ante-apical claws (claws protruding from leg before apex). Mesothoracic legs about equidistant between front and hind legs, if NOT, then middle tarsi with feather-like or blade-like structures. Hind femora short (shorter than abdomen, or just barely longer). Laterally, metasternum with pair of scent grooves anterior to hind coxae.
Genus:
without plumose hairs at apex of middle tarsi, tarsi formula 1:2:2 (mature adult), narrow claws at end of middle tarsi
Dorsal
Ventral