List of aquatic heteropteran bug species of Great Britain facts for kids

Imagine tiny creatures swimming, diving, and even walking on water! These are aquatic heteropteran bugs, often called 'true bugs' that live in water. Great Britain is home to many different kinds of these fascinating insects. They are a super important part of the underwater world.

Amazing Aquatic True Bugs

Aquatic true bugs are a special group of insects. They belong to a larger group called Hemiptera, which means "half-wing." This refers to their unique wings, which are half leathery and half membranous. True bugs also have a special mouthpart. It is shaped like a straw, perfect for piercing and sucking their food.

Life in the Water

These bugs spend most or all of their lives in water. You can find them in ponds, lakes, rivers, and even puddles! They have amazing adaptations that help them survive underwater. Some can breathe air using a bubble they carry. Others have special hairs that trap air. Many are excellent swimmers, using their strong legs like oars.

What Makes a Bug a 'True Bug'?

The word "bug" is often used for any insect. But in science, "true bugs" are a specific group. They are part of the order Hemiptera. What makes them unique is their mouthparts. They have a long, jointed beak called a proboscis. They use this to pierce plants or other insects and suck out liquids. Aquatic true bugs use this for hunting or feeding on algae.

Life Cycle of Aquatic Bugs

Like many insects, aquatic true bugs go through a life cycle. They start as an egg, often laid on plants in the water. The egg hatches into a nymph. A nymph looks a lot like a small adult bug, but it doesn't have fully developed wings. The nymph grows by shedding its skin, a process called molting. Each time it molts, it gets bigger. After several molts, it becomes a full-grown adult. This type of development is called incomplete metamorphosis.

Meet the Families of Aquatic Bugs

Great Britain is home to many different families of aquatic true bugs. Each family has its own unique features and ways of life. Here are some of the most common and interesting ones:

Family Nepidae: Water Scorpions and Water Stick Insects

These bugs are masters of disguise!

• Nepa cinerea is known as the water scorpion. It looks a bit like a scorpion, but it's harmless to humans. It has a long breathing tube at its rear end. This tube acts like a snorkel, letting it breathe air while hidden in the mud.
• Ranatra linearis is the water stick insect. It's long and thin, blending in perfectly with underwater plants. It also uses a snorkel to breathe. Both are ambush predators, waiting for small prey to come close.

Family Corixidae: Water Boatmen

Water boatmen are very common. They are often seen swimming upside down!

• Micronecta scholtzi and many others are part of this family.
• Corixa punctata is a well-known species.

These bugs are usually herbivores, meaning they eat algae and plant debris. They use their front legs to scoop up food. Their hind legs are long and fringed, perfect for paddling through the water.

Family Naucoridae: Saucer Bugs

• Ilyocoris cimicoides is a good example.

These bugs have a flat, oval body, like a saucer. They are strong swimmers and fierce predators. They have powerful front legs that they use to grab and hold onto their prey. They often hide in vegetation, waiting for small fish or other insects.

Family Notonectidae: Backswimmers

• Notonecta glauca is a common species.

These bugs are famous for swimming on their backs! Their underside is lighter, helping them blend in with the sky when viewed from below. They are active predators, hunting other insects and even small tadpoles. They can deliver a painful bite if handled, so it's best to observe them without touching.

Family Pleidae: Pygmy Backswimmers

• Plea minutissima is a tiny member of this family.

These are very small, round-bodied bugs. Like their larger relatives, the Notonectidae, they also swim on their backs. They are usually found in still water, feeding on tiny aquatic organisms.

Family Mesoveliidae: Pond Skaters

• Mesovelia furcata is a small, delicate bug.

These bugs are often found near the edges of ponds. They are very small and can walk on the surface film of the water. They feed on tiny insects that fall onto the water.

Family Hebridae: Velvet Water Bugs

• Hebrus pusillus is one of these tiny bugs.

These are tiny, dark-colored bugs with a velvety appearance. They live in damp places near water, often among moss or decaying leaves. They are predators, hunting small invertebrates.

Family Hydrometridae: Water Measurers

• Hydrometra stagnorum is a common species.

These bugs are very thin and long, looking like walking sticks on the water's surface. They move slowly and deliberately, using their long legs to 'measure' the water. They feed on small insects trapped on the surface.

Family Veliidae: Riffle Bugs

• Velia caprai is a well-known riffle bug.

These bugs are often found in flowing water, like streams and rivers. They are smaller than pond skaters and have shorter legs. They are predators, feeding on insects that fall into the water.

Family Gerridae: Pond Skaters

• Gerris lacustris is a very common pond skater.

These are the most well-known water surface dwellers. They have long legs that spread their weight, allowing them to 'skate' across the water without sinking. They are predators, catching insects that fall onto the water's surface. They are often seen in groups on ponds and slow-moving rivers.

See also

• Heteropteran
• British Isles