Natator

The genus Natator (family Notonectidae, order Hemiptera) consists of aquatic bugs that can act as pests in specific agricultural environments, such as hydroponic systems and commercial fish farms. While these insects are predators, their high density negatively impacts fry and larvae, often causing economic losses in aquaculture-related agricultural facilities.

Taxonomically, the Natator belongs to the backswimmers family. Their main characteristic is the ability to swim upside down, using their hind legs, which are fringed with hairs, as oars. In agronomic settings, such as rice paddies or irrigation canals, they can rapidly dominate the ecosystem, competing with or harming beneficial aquatic fauna.

The life cycle consists of an egg stage, five nymphal instars, and the adult phase. Females deposit eggs on aquatic plants or submerged infrastructure surfaces. The rate of development is highly dependent on water temperature and food availability, allowing the population to explode rapidly in favorable conditions, which is critical for pest management strategies.

The damage caused by Natator is linked to their predatory nature. They possess piercing-sucking mouthparts and inject toxins into their prey to liquefy tissues. In the context of intensive fish farming or specialized aquatic crops, this causes significant mortality among young organisms, potentially disrupting the balance of the controlled agricultural environment.

Protection measures should focus on integrated pest management (IPM). Key strategies include the regular removal of dense aquatic vegetation, which serves as a vital substrate for egg-laying. In cases of severe infestation, mechanical filtration or the application of selective insecticides that are safe for the primary agricultural products is recommended to reduce the population levels.