Nepomorpha

Nepomorpha is an infraorder of true bugs adapted to aquatic or semiaquatic life. It includes water boatmen, backswimmers, water scorpions, and related groups.

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Hemiptera: Hemiptera is an order of insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts, including true bugs, aphids, and cicadas. Nepomorpha is one infraorder within this larger insect order.
Insect respiratory system: The insect respiratory system delivers oxygen through branching tracheae that open to the exterior through spiracles. Nepomorphans adapt this air-delivery system to underwater life in different ways.
Freshwater ecology: Freshwater ecology studies organisms and environmental processes in rivers, lakes, wetlands, and other inland waters. Nepomorphans are predators, prey, and consumers within freshwater food webs.
Corixidae: Corixidae is a family of aquatic true bugs commonly called water boatmen, many of which feed on algae or detritus. This widespread family represents the often-bottom-feeding members of Nepomorpha.
Gerromorpha: Gerromorpha is an infraorder of true bugs adapted mainly to life on the water surface. Unlike Nepomorpha, its members chiefly exploit the air-water interface rather than living underwater.
Heteroptera: Heteroptera is the major lineage of Hemiptera commonly known as true bugs, characterized by forewings with distinct basal and apical regions. Nepomorpha belongs to this true-bug lineage.
Hydrofuge respiration: Hydrofuge respiration uses water-repellent body surfaces to retain an air film for gas exchange underwater. This respiratory strategy occurs in some aquatic true bugs.
Bioindicator: A bioindicator is an organism or community whose presence, abundance, or condition reveals environmental conditions. Changes in aquatic true-bug communities can help characterize freshwater habitats.
Notonectidae: Notonectidae is a family of predatory aquatic true bugs called backswimmers, which swim with their ventral side upward. Its inverted swimming posture is a conspicuous nepomorphan specialization.
Leptopodomorpha: Leptopodomorpha is an infraorder of true bugs commonly associated with shorelines and other damp habitats. It contrasts with Nepomorpha's predominantly aquatic way of life.