THE XERCES SOCIETY FOR INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION Aquatic Invertebrates in Pacific Northwest Freshwater Wetlands |
Identify taxa Jointed legsSix legsHemipteraPaddle shaped hind legCorixidae |
Corixidae (water boatmen) |
Water boatmen are very common in still and slack water where some prey on animals and others feed on plant juices. At first glance they appear similar to the backswimmers (Notonectidae), but their dorsal surface is usually dark and mottled whereas it is greenish white in the Notonectidae. Also, unlike Notonectidae, corixids have distinctive scoop-shaped forelegs (used to stir up food from the sediment) and a short, blunt unsegmented beak. The hind legs are paddle-shaped and fringed with swimming hairs, but lack claws. |
Size: medium Identifying feature(s): dark mottled topside, paddle-shaped hind legs Habitat: wetlands; still water and slack water in rivers and streams Tolerance to pollutants: unknown |
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