Hemiptera31 species

Family Backswimmers (Notonectidae)

Notonectidae is a family in the order Hemiptera. Browse 31 named species recorded in this family, or open an individual profile for its available identification and natural-history information.

Species in Notonectidae (31)

Buenoa scimitra

Identification: Stridulatory area on inner surface of profemur scimitar-shaped, almost crossing the femur, consisting of about 60 ridges

Common Backswimmer

Notonecta glauca

Up to nearly 2 cm in size, and commonly called backswimmers because they swim upside down and are often seen at the surface of the water. Notonecta glauca is light brown in colour with a number of dark markings and large reddish eyes. It often looks

Notonecta lobata

Identification: Color can be informative but highly variable. Typically red and black. Some specimens are brownish black with beige trimmings and others are greenish-tan. All have the head, pronotum and limbs yellow or gray and scutellum and membrane

Notonecta lunata

Identification: very similar N. raleighi but with more northern distribution

Notonecta maculata

Notonecta are up to nearly 2 cm and commonly called backswimmers because they swim upside down and are often seen at the surface of the water. Notonecta maculata is light brown in colour with a number of dark markings and large reddish eyes. It is di

Notonecta montezuma

Identification: very similar to N. kirbyi ; nearly identical and possible the same species as N. impressa in Mexico

Notonecta obliqua

This distinctive species has dark elytra marked with bold whitish markings. There are four UK Notonecta species and whilst they look broadly similar they can all be separated in the field from the different elytral markings. See ID Aids below. Unless

Notonecta uhleri

Identification: Hemielytra varying from dark brick-red to rich orange-yellow (Kirkaldy 1897)

Notonecta viridis

Length 13 to 15 mm. Distinguished by the front of the pronotum, which has pointed angles that extend partly around the eye. There are four UK Notonecta species and whilst they look broadly similar they can all be separated in the field from the diffe