 990,050,439 visitors served. | 
|
 Dictionary/ thesaurus |  Medical dictionary |  Legal dictionary |  Financial dictionary |  Acronyms |  Idioms |  Encyclopedia |  Wikipedia encyclopedia | ? |
backswimmer |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia | 0.42 sec. |
backswimmerAquatic predatory bug living mostly in fresh water. The adults are about 15 mm/0.5 in long and rest upside down at the water surface to breathe. When disturbed they dive, carrying with them a supply of air trapped under the wings. They have piercing beaks, used in feeding on tadpoles and small fish. ClassificationBackswimmers belong to the genus Notonecta, family Notonectidae in suborder Heteroptera, order Hemiptera (true bugs), class Insecta, phylum Arthropoda.Females have a sharp ovipositor to pierce the stems of aquatic plants. In each notch one egg is laid; each female lays a total of approximately 60 eggs over a period of a few weeks. Backswimmers fly readily from pond to pond. |
|
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
? Mentioned in | ? References in periodicals archive | |
|---|---|---|
But whereas the water boatman swims right-side up, the backswimmer spends its life on its back"). |
backswimmer
 |
| Free Tools: |
For surfers:
Browser extension |
Word of the Day |
Help
For webmasters: Free content NEW! | Linking | Lookup box | Double-click lookup | Partner with us |
|
|---|
Disclaimer |
Privacy policy |
Feedback | Copyright © 2008 Farlex, Inc.All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.