Backswimmers

Family Notonectidae

Notonecta undalata. Photo:Stephanie Boucher

Backswimmers swim upside down, with the ventral (normally under) side uppermost. They are predators of other insects and occasionally tadpoles and small fish. They frequently attack animals larger than themselves and feed by sucking juices from their prey. The underside of the body holds a bubble of air trapped by rows of hairs. They are frequently found resting at the surface of the water with their body at an angle, head down and hind legs extended. Backswimmers have very pale, convex hemielytra (modified front wings that protect the hind wings) which face ventrally as these bugs swim upside down through the water. The hind legs are very long and oar-like.