The Water Bugs (Hemiptera: Gerromorpha, Nepomorpha and Leptopodomorpha) of South Africa

Compiled by Martin H. Villet

Department of Zoology & Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140 South Africa

& Patrick Reavell

Department of Botany, University of Zululand, South Africa

© Copyright of this page belongs to the author.
Yours is the access since 1st January 2000


Contents

Introduction
Resources
The Families
References

Introduction

The aquatic bugs of southern Africa are placed in 17 families. The classification has been substantially updated (Schuh & Slater 1995), and the older names Amphibicorisae and Hydrocorisae have been dropped.

This list is compiled from Poisson (1956), Truxal (1990) and private collection records. It is not particularly complete (hence all of the asterisks), especially in terms of distributions and seasons of adult activity. Any contributions would be welcome, and should be mailed to the list co-ordinator.

Resources


Order: HEMIPTERA

NEOHETEROPTERA
GERROMORPHA
Superfamily: Mesoveloidea
Mesoveliidae
Superfamily: Hebroidea
Hebridae
Paraphrynoveliidae
Superfamily: Hydrometroidea
Hydrometridae (watermeasurers)
Superfamily: Gerroidea
Veliidae (watercrickets)
Gerridae (pondskaters)
PANHETEROPTERA
NEPOMORPHA
Superfamily: Nepoidea
Belostomatidae (giant waterbugs)
Nepidae (waterscorpions)
Superfamily: Ochteroidea
Gelastocoridae (toadbugs)
Ochteridae
Superfamily: Corixoidea
Corixidae (waterboatmen)
Superfamily: Naucoroidea
Naucoridae (creeping waterbugs)
Aphelocheiridae
Superfamily: Notonectoidea
Notonectidae (backswimmers)
Pleidae (pygmy backswimmers)
LEPTOPODOMORPHA
Superfamily: Saldoidea
Saldidae (shorebugs)
Leptopodidae (spiny shorebugs)

References

Schuh, R.T. & Slater, J.A. 1995.
True Bugs of the World (Hemiptera: Heteroptera): classification and natural history. Cornell University Press, Ithaca. 3337 pp.


This part of A Catalogue of South African Insects revised: