Backswimmer (or possibly a Water Boatman due to blur)
Scientific Name: Notonecta spp. (Family Notonectidae)
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Notonectidae
Size: Typically 5 to 15 mm (0.2 to 0.6 inches) in length.
Natural Habitat
Found in still or slow-moving freshwater such as ponds, lakes, swimming pools, and birdbaths. They often hang upside down from the water's surface.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous predators. They eat tadpoles, small fish, other insects, aquatic larvae, and terrestrial insects trapped on the water surface.
Behavior Patterns
They swim upside down on their backs (hence the name) using their long, oar-like hind legs. They carry a bubble of air on their abdomen for breathing underwater. They are attracted to lights and often end up in swimming pools.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: They can inflict a painful bite if handled or threatened, sometimes called a 'water bee' or 'water wasp.' Benefits: They are beneficial predators that help control populations of mosquito larvae and other aquatic pests.
Identified on: 3/7/2026