Sparsholt Schools' Centre for Environmental Education
 

Pond Animal Information 

 

Water boatman
Scientific Name: Notonecta species 
Group: Insecta (hemiptera)
Size:  10 - 15 mm
The water boatman is unusual in that it swims on its back Their 3rd pair of legs are long and paddle shaped, idealfor swimming.  It feeds on animals which are sometimes larger than itself! 

They come to the surface to collect a bubble of air on their abdomen.
 
 
Food chain
Position in food chain:
secondary consumer (carnivore)
They eat: other insects and larger animals such as tadpoles, small fish
They are eaten by:
larger animals such as diving beetles, dragonfly nymphs, fish

The water bugs have pointed mouthparts for piercing and sucking. 

 

Life cycle
The female lays her eggs so that most of the egg is inside plant tissue. On hatching, the nymph escapes through the open end.

The nymph usually goes through five moults before it becomes an adult. 

Did you know ...   Handle the water boatman with care! They can prick you with their piercing mouthparts (rostrum).

 

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