Wikipedia

Corixidae

Corixidaeis a family of aquaticinsectsin the orderHemiptera.They are found worldwide in virtually any freshwater habitat and a few species live in saline water.[1]There are about 500 known species worldwide, in 55 genera, including the genusSigara.

Corixidae
Temporal range:Late Triassic–Present
Hesperocorixa castanea
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Infraorder: Nepomorpha
Family: Corixidae
Leach,1815
Subfamilies, Genera

52 genera in 5 subfamilies

Members of the Corixidae are commonly known aslesserwater boatmen:the term used in theUnited Kingdomto distinguish species such asCorixa punctata[2]fromNotonecta glauca,or greater water-boatman, an insect of a different family,Notonectidae.

Morphology and ecology

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Corixidae generally have a long flattened body ranging from 2.5 to 15 mm (0.1–0.6 in) long.[1]Many have extremely fine dark brown or black striations marking the wings. They tend to have four long rear legs and two short front ones. The forelegs are covered with hairs and shaped like oars, hence the name "water boatman". Their four hindmost legs have scoop- or oar-shaped tarsi to aid swimming.[3]They also have a triangular head with short, triangular mouthparts. Corixidae dwell in slow rivers and ponds, as well as some household pools.

Water boatmen active under the ice in March atGlenmore Reservoir,Calgary, Alberta

Unlike their relatives thebackswimmers(Notonectidae), who swim upside down, Corixidae swim right side up. It is easy to tell the two types of insects apart simply by looking at the swimming position.[1]

Corixidae are unusual among the aquaticHemipterain that some species are non-predatory, feeding on aquatic plants andalgaeinstead of insects and other small animals. They use their straw-like mouthparts to inject enzymes into plants. The enzymes digest the plant material, letting the insect suck the liquified food back through its mouthparts and into its digestive tract.[1]However, most species are not strictlyherbivorousand can even be completely predatory, like those of the subfamilyCymatiainae.[4]In fact, Corixidae have a broad range of feeding styles:carnivorous,detritivorous,herbivorous andomnivorous.

Some species within this family are preyed upon by a number ofamphibiansincluding therough-skinned newt(Taricha granulosa).[5]

The reproductive cycle of Corixidae is annual. Eggs are typically oviposited (deposited) on submerged plants, sticks, or rocks. In substrate limited waters (waters without many submerged oviposition sites), every bit of available substrate will be covered in eggs.

Corixa punctata

Genera

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These 52 genera belong to the family Corixidae:

Data sources: i = ITIS,[6]c = Catalogue of Life,[7]g = GBIF,[8]b = Bugguide.net[9]

References

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  1. ^abcdRandall T. Schuh; James Alexander Slater (1996).True Bugs of the World (Hemiptera:Heteroptera): Classification and Natural History(2 ed.). Cornell University Press. pp.119–122.ISBN978-0801420665.
  2. ^BBC Science and Nature: Water boatman, common backswimmerNotonecta glaucaRetrieved on 2008-07-26
  3. ^Missouri Department of Conservation: Water boatmenRetrieved on 2016-08-08
  4. ^Nieser, N. (2002): Guide to aquatic Heteroptera of Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia. IV. Corixoidea.The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology50:26–274.
  5. ^C. Michael Hogan (2008)Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa),Globaltwitcher, ed. Nicklas StrombergArchived2009-05-27 at theWayback Machine
  6. ^ "Corixidae Report".Integrated Taxonomic Information System.Retrieved2018-04-20.
  7. ^"Browse Corixidae".Catalogue of Life.Archived fromthe originalon 2018-04-21.Retrieved2018-04-20.
  8. ^ "Corixidae".GBIF.Retrieved2018-04-20.
  9. ^ "Corixidae Family Information".BugGuide.net.Retrieved2018-04-20.
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