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HEMIPTERA, Naucoridae -- <Images> & <Juveniles>

This is a small family of insects species of which are the creeping water bugs. Originally this family was placed in the Naucoroidea with the Aphelocheiridae and Potamocoridae.They are similar in appearance and behavior to the Belostomatidae, as they also occur in ponds and other quiet waters. Sometimes, these insects also occur found in damp places in dwellings, and are frequently believed to be cockroaches. There are about 22 genera in 5 subfamilies, with worldwide distribution.

Their body shape that makes them look like smaller Belostomatidae . They have raptorial forelegs for catching and holding their prey. Their small antennae located under the eye are often difficult to discern. Similar to the giant water

Bugs they have a cylindrical beak of 3 or 4 segments.

The genus Ambrysus is very common in western North America, occurring in still waters, or clear streams and ponds.

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References: Please refer to <biology.ref.htm>, [Additional references may be found at: MELVYL Library]

Larsen, 0. 1945. Der Thorax der Heteropteren. Skelett und Muskulatur. Lunds Univ. Arsskr. 41 (3) : 1-96.

Larsen, O. 1950. Die Veranderungen im Bau der Heteropteren bei der Reduktion des Flugapparates. Opusc. Ent. 15 : 17-51.

Larsen, O. 1957. Truncale Scolopalorgane in den pterothorakalen und den beiden ersten abidominalen Segmenten der aquatilen Heteropteren. Lunds Univ. Arsskr. 53 (1) : 1-66.

Larsen, O. 1970. The flight organs of Ilyocoris cimicoides L. (Hem., Naucoridae). Ent. Scand. 1: 227-235.

Matsuda, R. 1970. Morphology and evolution of the insect thorax. Mem. Amer. Ent. Inst. 76: 1-431.

Neville, A. C. 1970. Cuticle ultrastructure in relation to the whole insect. In: Insect Ultrastructure, A. C. Neville (dl.), Sympos. Roy. Ent. Soc.Lond. 5 : 17-40.

Parsons, M. C. 1969. Skeletomusculature of the pterothorax and first abdominal seg- ment in microptero'us Aphelocheirus aestivalis F. (Heteroptera : Naucoridae). Trans. Roy. Ent. Soc. Lond. 121: 1-39.

Say, Thomas. 1859. American entomology: a description of the insects of North America, with illustrations drawn and colored after nature (edited by John L. LeConte; with a memoir of the author by George Ord). Boston: Estes & Lauriat, 2 volumes.

Snodgrass, R. E. 1935. Principles of insect morphology. New York: McGraw-Hill.