Naucoridae
| Creeping water bugs | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ilyocoris cimicoides | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Heteroptera |
| Infraorder: | Nepomorpha |
| Family: | Naucoridae |
| Subfamilies | |
| |
Naucoridae is a small family of insects commonly known as the creeping water bugs. They are very similar in appearance and behavior to the giant water bugs (Belostomatidae), and also occur in ponds and other still waters. However, most species are lotic, occurring in streams, rivers, and even a few on waterfalls. There are approximately 395 species in 40 genera in 5 subfamilies.[1] Their distribution is primarily tropical, although a few taxa occur in northern and southern temperate regions.
They were formerly united in a superfamily Naucoroidea with the Aphelocheiridae and Potamocoridae, but these are now in their own superfamily (Aphelocheiroidea) and the Naucoroidea are monophyletic.
References
- ↑ P220 Randall T. Schuh, James Alexander Slater, True bugs of the world (Hemiptera:Heteroptera): classification and natural history, Cornell University Press, 1995, ISBN 0-8014-2066-0