2017 Vol.23 No.1 PP 225-229
STUDY OF MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TAXONOMICALLY SIGNIFICANT AQUATIC AND SEMIAQUATIC FAMILIES IN HETEROPTERA
*MAMTA KUMARI AND SUSHIL KUMAR1
Department of Zoology,
M.G. Balika (P.G.) College,
FIROZABAD (U.P.) INDIA
1Department of Zoology,
Paliwal (P.G.) College,
SHIKOHABAD-283135 (U.P.) INDIA
*Corresponding Author :
E-mail : mamta9219271251@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The heteroptera is an important suborder of order hemiptera and includes a large number of aquatic and
semiaquatic forms, which are of a taxonomic importance. The study recorded 14 families namely Napidae, Notonectidae
Pleidae, Belostomatidae, Naucoridae, Corixidae, Gelastocoreidae, Ochtaridae, Hydrometridae, Velidae Mesoveliidae,
Gerridae, Saldidae and Herbridae. Aquatic and semiaquatic heteropteran insects are of variable sizes from 1.5 mm. to
110 mm long living mainly in lentic and lotic fresh water. Some even live in brackish water, only a few species are marine.
These are different in morphology and feeding habits from their terrestrial forms. Some are truly aquatic, provided with
effective swimming respiratory structure along with modification of body shape and size. Besides the genitalia and
copulatory complex of all the species studied has been dealt. The other morphological features of taxonomic significance
were also studied. This study finds various morphological features in the members of different aquatic and semiaquatic
families of heteroptera.
Key words : Aquatic, Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Semiaquatic.