Types of Waterbugs

Water bugs live in or near water, so if you live near a creek or pond, chances are you've had water bugs in or around your home. Water bugs belong to the hemiptera family of insects. They are also called "true bugs." According to the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Illinois, the difference between water bugs and other aquatic insects is that water bugs don't use gills to breathe. Instead they use the oxygen from the air in the form of bubbles trapped within the waterproof hair on their body. Most water bugs are predatory except for the water boatmen.

  1. Giant Water Bug

    • Giant water bugs are also known as toe biters and electric light bugs. They are the largest insect in the family of hemiptera, which, according to the Digital Key to Aquatic Insects of North Dakota, are medium to large, oval and somewhat flattened bugs. They like slow-moving water, and freshwater streams and ponds. Giant water bugs are ambush hunters that lie close to plants, which they grasp while waiting for prey to come along. Their diet includes tadpoles, small fish and aquatic invertebrates.

    Back Swimmer

    • Back swimmers get their name from the fact that they swim on their backs, upside down with their legs near the surface of the water. They can be recognized by the large eyes on their head, and their curved backs. Back Swimmers are only eight-tenths of an inch long and feed on small water animals like blood worms and water larvae. They may also attack tadpoles and small fish. Back Swimmers can be found in ponds, lakes and marshes.

    Water Striders

    • Water striders are long and flat insects. They can be recognized by their second and third pairs of legs, which are almost twice as big as their bodies. They use their short front legs for catching prey and their long back legs like water paddles for walking on the water. Water striders are predators that prey on larvae and smaller insects. They cannot detect motion above or below the surface of the water, so they are easy prey to frogs, birds and fish. However, they use their sensitivity to motion and vibration to catch their prey such as small insects that fall on the water's surface or larvae just below the surface.

    Water Boatman

    • Water boatman can be identified by their triangular heads and the black and dark brown marks on their bodies. They have six legs, two short ones in the front and four longer ones in the back. Water boatman get their name from the fact that they have hair on their hind legs that look like oars. They are the only water bugs that are not predatory; they eat water plants and algae.