Backswimmer vs Australian Lace Bug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Backswimmer | Australian Lace Bug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Notonecta glauca | Froggattia olivinia |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Notonectidae | Tingidae |
| Size | 14-16 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Woodlands |
| Diet | Predators | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Australia, Oceania |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Backswimmer
An aquatic bug that swims upside down just beneath the water surface, using its long hind legs as oars. Its back is keeled like a boat hull and pale-colored for camouflage when viewed from below.
Did You Know?
Backswimmers swim inverted with their pale backs facing downward, providing counter-shading camouflage against the bright sky when predators look up from below.
Australian Lace Bug
A small sap-sucking bug that infests eucalyptus trees, producing unsightly black sooty mould on leaves. It has intricately patterned lace-like wing extensions that give the family its common name.
Did You Know?
Female lace bugs guard their eggs and young nymphs, a rare example of parental care in true bugs.