This is a widespread bug that occurs in ditches, pools, disused cattle ponds, neglected dykes especially in wooded areas and late successional ponds or lake margins with dead or dying vegetation. They can be found with H. linnaei and often succeed Sigara fossarum. They survive in high alkaline areas that have a moderate to high decomposition rate and a high percentage of organic matter in solution. The bugs are detritus feeders throughout life and, as with other Corixinae, breathe dissolved oxygen in the early instars but by means of a bubble gill - requiring renewal at the surface from time to time - in the later ones and as adults.

The overwintered adults mate between late March and the end of April, when the water is still quite cold, and oviposit at about this period. (SW&L, 1959)

Distribution:

Found in 30 of the 10km Northants squares and classified as Very Common. It has a wide distribution across the county and found in detritus ponds where other water bugs don't exist.

Habitat:

Found in ponds, pools, ditches, lake margins and neglected aquatic habitats especially with dead or dying vegetation.

Identification:

All 4 Hesperocorixa.spp have a pointed ziphus. This is the largest of the 4 species at 8mm and have 7 to 9 pale lines on the pronotum.