Family Pleidae

Plea minutissima Leach

Standing and slow-moving water bodies of all sizes with abundant aquatic vegetation; zoophage (both adults and larvae feed on the larvae of various aquatic organisms); univoltine; overwinters as adult. According to some authors (e.g. Papáček 1987), diapause is obligate. However, others (e.g. Kovac 1982) report that overwinter torpor is induced by low temperature, and can be interrupted by upward fluctuations in temperature. The imago is longlived (up to 2 years) and probably reproduces in the 2nd year (Wefelscheid 1912). West Palearctic.