Insects: Native Species
Scientific name: Microvelia vagans
Common name(s): Hawaiian Pond Bug
Status: Endemic
Habitat: Wetlands, side pools, puddles and calm areas of the stream around vegetation
Preferred Area of Stream: Calm areas of the stream such as the margins of pools in streams and also wetlands
Range in Hawai‘i: Common on all Hawaiian Islands
Diet: Preys on small insects that it finds at the surface of the water. Diet includes craneflies, mosquitoes, and other aquatic insects as well as terrestrial insects such as moths or flies that have fallen into the water. Large congregations of these species may be seen at the surface of puddles around freshly dead insects. The mouthparts of the Hawaiian Pond bug include an elongated beak that is used for piercing and sucking. The beak encloses two channels (each a hollow tube): one carries saliva to the host tissue, and one sucks up the liquid food.
Predators: Birds, fish, predatory insects such as dragonflies
Fact: The Hawaiian pond bug is a very small yet noticeable aquatic insect that can be found in great numbers along the margins of Hawaiian streams and wetlands. This species is still common in higher elevation areas but is now less common in disturbed aquatic habitats, and is not found at all in disturbed urban stream or wetland areas.
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