Neotropical Backswimmer vs Mountain Prosimulium
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Neotropical Backswimmer | Mountain Prosimulium |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Buenoa antigone | Prosimulium mixtum |
| Order | Hemiptera | Diptera |
| Family | Notonectidae | Simuliidae |
| Size | 5-9 mm | 2-4 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Mountains |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Neotropical Backswimmer
A small aquatic bug that swims upside-down using its long oar-like hind legs. Its pale ventral surface provides camouflage when viewed from below against the sky.
Did You Know?
It carries a silvery air bubble on its belly that functions like a physical gill, extracting dissolved oxygen from the water.
Mountain Prosimulium
An early-season black fly of cold mountain streams in North America. Larvae develop in small headwater streams during late winter and early spring.
Did You Know?
Adults emerge so early in spring that they are often the first biting flies encountered by hikers each year.