Hydrometridae

Pronunciation:  [High·droh·MET·ri·dae]

Common Name:  Water measurers; marsh treaders

Description:  Extremely slender and brown or green in color.  They inhabit shoreline or floating vegetation where they stalk prey near the water surface.  The long head and protruding eyes set near the midpoint are distinctive characters of this family.

Spot ID Key Characters:

1. Narrow body with long, thin legs
2. Four-segmented antennae; ocelli absent
3. Head and thorax nearly equal in length
4. Bulging compound eyes arise near midpoint of head

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Order:  Hemiptera, suborder Heteroptera