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Home , Alydidae, Alydus, Alydus eurinus, Aradidae, Belostoma flumineum, Berytidae

Characters for Identifying Common Falimies of ()1

Mesoveliidae: Diagnostic characters: small, elongate; greenish or yellowish; wingless or winged (if winged, clavus of forewing membranous, membrane veinless); antennae long, slender; tarsal claws apical; ocelli present; legs with conspicuous black spines.

Water treaders, as members of the neustonic fauna, occur on the surface of standing waters, often among floating or emergent vegetation. They feed as scavengers on dead and dying trapped in the surface film. Photo: mulsanti, winged and apterous adults; hind tibia showing black spines.

Hydrometridae: Diagnostic characters: small, delicate bugs, with very slender, elongate body; head long and slender; eyes bulging in the middle.

Water measurers are also neustonic scavengers and predators, but often go unnoticed because of their very slender bodies.

1 Photos from University of Minnesota Collection (RW Holzenthal).

1 : Diagnostic characters: small (less than 5 mm), neustonic bugs; tarsal claws anteapical; hind femora extending little, if any, beyond apex of abdomen.

Riffle bugs are commonly found just below the riffles of streams, but also in ponds and lakes. They often occur in large swarms. They prey on other surface dwelling , detecting their prey through surface vibrations. Photo: obesa, Minnesota.

Gerridae: Diagnostic characters: arger than veliids, also inhabiting the water-surface; tarsal claws anteapical; hind femora extending well beyond apex of abdomen.

Water striders are very common surface bugs in lakes, ponds, and pools. They move across the surface of the water by "rowing" and also communicate by tapping the surface with their legs. They prey on insect trapped or living on the surface. Winged and wingless adults occur in some . All are freshwater inhabitants except for species in the which occur in the open ocean. Photo: Limnoporus dissortis, Minnesota.

Saldidae: Diagnostic characters: small, oval, flattened semiaquatic bugs; forewing membrane with 4-5 long closed cells.

Shore bugs are active shore inhabiting predatory insects. Photo: confluenta, Minnesota.

Belostomatidae: Diagnostic characters: medium to large; brownish, oval, flat, with strong, raptorial forelegs; short, retractile respiratory appendages at tip of abdomen.

Giant water bugs are very common aquatic bugs found in ponds, pools, and ditches. They have a short siphon at the tip of the abdomen used for breathing while they are submerged. They are rapacious predators; the larger species even prey of small fish and frogs. They are good fliers and are attracted to lights at night. They can give a fierce bite if not handled properly. All of these characteristics are captured in their various common names: "fish killers," "toe biters," and "electric light bugs." Photos: americanus, a large giant water bug from Minnesota; flumineum, Minnesota, male with eggs on dorsum of hemelytra.

2 : Diagnostic characters: slender-elongate or elongate-oval; forelegs slender and raptorial; long, non-retractable breathing tube at tip of the abdomen.

Water scorpions live in the same as giant water bugs and are as equally common. They hang from the surface with the tip of their long siphon exposed and grab passing prey with long raptorial forelegs. Photos: Two water scorpions from Minnesota, Ranatra kirkaldyi and Nepa apiculata, representing the two body forms.

Gelastocoridae: Diagnostic characters: small, toad-shaped bugs with bulging eyes.

Toad bugs could not be more aptly named - their resemblance to toads is remarkable. They also hop and can change color to match the substrate! They live along the shores of ponds, lakes and rivers where they prey on other shore inhabiting arthropods. Photo: oculatus.

Corixidae: Diagnostic characters: front tarsi 1-segmented and scoop- shaped; beak very short and hidden, appearing 1-segmented.

Water boatman are very common and abundant in ponds, lakes, pools, and ditches; some species are found in brackish water or in intertidal zones. They use oar-like hind and mid legs for swimming. The mouthparts are adapted for taking in small particles of solid food as well as very small aquatic organisms such as diatoms, protozoans, rotifers and organic material that they sweep into the mouth with the scoop-shaped fore tarsi; others are herbivorous and puncture the cells of filamentous algae while a few prey on mosquito larvae. The males have asymmetrical genitalia and modified pegs on the fore femora for against the sharp sides of the head. Photos: laevigata, Minnesota. Head of H. lobata, showing broad, conical beak and modified fore tarsus.

3 : Diagnostic characters: small, oval, with flattened body, somewhat similar to belostomatids but with front femora greatly enlarged.

Creeping water bugs, or gator fleas, occur in rivers and ponds. Some lotic species are adapted to fast flowing areas, while the lentic species occur among vegetation. They can inflict a very painful bite when handled. They breathe under water by way of a "plastron gill," a region of very dense hairs on the body surface that traps a layer of air across which oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse. Photo: A creeping water bug from Arizona.

Notonectidae: Diagnostic characters: similar to corixids but convex and with front tarsi unmodified; beak more elongate and segmented.

Backswimmers occur in standing waters where they swim upside down in the water column in search of prey, often by sneaking up on them from below. Males also stridulate by rubbing the fore legs against the beak. They also bite! Photo: insulata, Minnesota.

Pleidae: Diagnostic characters: small (3 mm or less), oval; similar to notonectids, but much smaller, with much more convex body.

Pygmy backswimmers are very common and abundant in weedy ponds in Minnesota, but often go unnoticed because of their small size. They carry a bubble of air on their ventral surface for respiration as they crawl around in vegetation in search of their prey, aquatic micro-arthropods. Photo: A pygmy backswimmer from Texas.

Cimicidae: Diagnostic characters: flat, oval, less than 6 mm, wings vestigial.

This is an annoying that has become more commonly encountered in recent years, especially in hotels, motels, and apartment buildings. The bugs hide in crack and crevices during the day. At night they leave their retreats to feed on unsuspecting guests. They do not vector disease, but cause an irritating bite. Adults can live for several months with out a meal. Photo: The common , lectularius, Minnesota.

Anthocoridae: Diagnostic characters: small, about 3-5 mm, somewhat oval, flattened, black with white markings; hemelytra with a cuneus; beak 3-segmented.

Photo: A minute pirate bug, Minnesota. These tiny bugs commonly occur on flowers and fruit where they feed on insect eggs and small insects. One species, the insidious flower bug, packs a powerful bite for its small size.

4 : Diagnostic characters: body generally elongate oval, rarely greatly elongate; beak short, 3-segmented, its tip fitting into a stridulatory groove in the prosternum; head elongate with part behind the eyes neck-like; transverse groove between the eyes.

The assassin bugs constitute a large, diverse of highly predaceous bugs; members of the subfamily bite humans and other vertebrates for a blood meal. Photos: Species of , or "kissing bugs," of the Neotropics transmit , caused by the protozoan cruzi. The masked hunter is a species that preys on bedbugs. Photos: The , cristata, ventral view of head, showing beak and prosternal groove.

Several examples of Neotropical species from Costa Rica 1, 2, and Peru 3, 4.

Reduviidae: : Diagnostic characters: front femora greatly thickened; abdomen wider in distal half, extending laterally beyond wings.

Ambush bugs are common, easily recognized, cryptically colored predators, now included within the Reduviidae as a subfamily. They are common on goldenrod where they blend in perfectly. They capture other insects, even larger bees, wasps, and flies, that visit flowers during pollination. Photo: pennsylvanica, Minnesota, dorsal and lateral.

5 : Diagnostic characters: small,10 mm or less, oval or elongate; hemelytra with cuneus, membrane with 1 or 2 closed cells.

These are very common and abundant bugs found on plants. Most are plant feeders and many of these are of economic importance; others are predaceous. Photos: Coquillettia mimetica, adult and ant mimicking , Minnesota; the four-lined plant bug, Poecilopsus lineatus, Minnesota.

Nabidae: Diagnostic characters: elongate, oval; ocelli present; prothoracic legs with femora slightly thickened; membrane of hemelytra with numerous marginal cells.

These predaceous little bugs, the damsel bugs, are important members of the predator community of natural as well as agricultural ecosystems. Photos: americoferus, adult and detail of foreleg, and the ant mimicking nymph of Nabis flavomarginatus.

Tingidae: Diagnostic characters: body and wings with reticulate sculpturing (giving it a "lacy" look).

Lace bugs are known for the remarkable ornamentation of the cuticle of the adult. They are plant feeders and when in great abundance their feeding can can damage plants, especially trees. Photo: Corythuca heidemanni, Minnesota.

6 : Diagnostic characters: small, dark, very flat, oval; wings narrow, abdomen extends beyond them.

Another remarkable bug because of its extreme flatness. They occur on and under bark of dead or decaying trees where they feed on fungi. Photos: Examples of flat bugs from Peru and Minnesota.

Coreidae: Diagnostic characters: membrane of hemelytra with many veins; head narrower and shorter than pronotum; scent glands present between middle and hind coxae; hind tibiae sometimes dilated and leaflike; buccula extends back past base of antenna.

Not all leaf-footed bugs have expanded hind tibiae, but all have well-developed scent glands. They feed on plants. One species, the squash bug, is a common pest on squash and other cucurbits. Photos: Head of Euthochthus galeator showing length of buccula in relation to base of antenna. Two leaf-footed bugs, Acanthocephalus nr. femorata, Mexico, and flavolineata, Costa Rica.

Alydidae: Diagnostic characters: similar to , but buccula not extending past base of antennae; head nearly as wide and as long as pronotum.

Broad headed bugs are common and notable because of their noxious smell and the nymphs that resemble ants. They feed on plants. Photos: Head of quinquespinosus showing length of buccula in relation to base of antenna; eurinus, Minnesota.

7 : Diagnostic characters: membrane of hemelytra with many veins; usually pale-colored (most specimens in lab collection are black with red margins); 10 mm or less; scent glands absent.

The , trivittatus, is the most conspicuous member of the family in Minnesota. They feed on the seeds of box elder and aggregate on the sunny, south facing sides of houses in the fall, looking for sites to overwinter.

Berytidae: Diagnostic characters: slender, 5-9 mm; legs and antennae long and slender; last antennal segment short and spindle-shaped.

Stilt bugs are delicate, slender insects. They are largely herbivorous.

Lygaeidae: Diagnostic characters: scent glands present; membrane of hemelytra with only 4-5 veins.

This is a large and important family of mostly seed feeding bugs. Now, the family has been divided into no less that 10 separate families (see textbook). Many species are important pests of crops, especially grains, while a few others are predaceous. Photos: The large milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus, Minnesota, and scent gland on the thorax of the small milkweed bug, Lygaeus kalmii, Minnesota.

Piesmatidae: Diagnostic characters: Small, about 3 mm, corium and clavus with an irregular network of small cells (pits). A small family of little bugs most noted for the sculpturing of the wings and thorax. They feed on members of the amaranth plant family. Photo: Ash-gray leaf bug, Piesma cinerea, Minnesota.

8 : Diagnostic characters: similar to but with strong spines on tibiae.

These little bugs burrow in the ground or under rocks and wood where they feed on plant roots. They are often attracted to lights at night. Photo: A burrower bug from Texas.

Pentatomidae: Diagnostic characters: scutellum large and triangular, but not longer than corium and not reaching apex of abdomen; spines weak or absent on tibiae.

Stink bugs are common and well known. They emit odiferous substances from the stink glands. Most are herbivorous, and some are pestiferous, including the harlequin bug on cabbage, the southern green stink bug, and the marmorated stinkbug. A few are predaceous. Photos: A large green stink bug from Minnesota, Acrosternum hilare. Two additional Minnesota species, and Brochymena quadripustulata.

Scutelleridae: Diagnostic characters: similar to Pentatomidae, but scutellum extending to apex of abdomen. These bugs are noteworthy because of the broad extension of the scutellum. Many tropical species are brightly colored. They are plant feeders. Photos: alternata, a shield- backed bug, Minnesota; Tectocoris lineola, a striking species from Australia.

Thyreocoridae: Diagnostic characters: similar to (scutellum covering most of abdomen), but tibiae armed with strong spines and body color shining black.

These are intensely black, shiny little bugs. They are common and found on vegetation. Photos: nitiduloides, Minnesota.

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