This is a widespread species that is scarce rather than rare. It prefers ponds, ditches, small pools and sometimes lakes with emergent vegetation especially reeds.

Overwintered adults appear in late March or early April, living on after oviposition in mid- or late April. Eggs and larvae develop rapidly and the new, first generation is found in June. These are paler than overwintered individuals. The second generation occurs from August onwards and goes into hibernation on nearby land in October and November (SWL, 1959)

Distribution:

This is widely distributed across the county and confined to certain sites. However it can be abundant within those sites

Habitat:

Prefers ponds, ditches, small pools and lakes, usually preferring margins with emergent vegetation.

Identification:

This is the smallest of the British water skaters, with a length of 6.5-8.0 mm. It can be identified by size, a band of silver hairs along the hind margin of the pronotum and also a comparison of the hind tarsi and tibia being 0.7 the size of the hind femur.