Water boatmen are aquatic bugs that live in ponds and slow-
flowing streams. In the UK we have ‘Lesser’ and ‘Greater’ water
boatmen. The Lesser water boatmen include the two families
Corixidae and Pleidae; and the Greater water boatmen, includes
the family Notonectidae. You can tell the difference between the
Lesser and Greater water boatmen by the way they swim with
Greater water boatmen swimming on their backs and Lesser water
boatmen swimming on their front. |Greater Water boatman
(Notonecta glauca) © Roger Key| Athletes of the water bug world
Water boatmen have flat bodies and four oar-like rear legs which
are covered in hairs, making them look like mini boats. Water
boatmen also have a pair of scoping front legs, these coupled
with their powerful rear limbs allows gracefully skimming under
the water’s surface as well as diving deep into watery depths.
Aquatic plant smoothies Most Water boatman are vegetarians. If
you look closely you will notice their triangular shaped heads
have a straw-like mouthpart (a