This is a small common bug found on the water surface at the margins of lakes, pools and ditches living amongst emergent vegetation with clear patches of water in-between, especially where sheltered by steep banks or trees. It can appear with M.pygmaea but is succeed by it where vegetation gets increases and gets thicker.

Eggs are laid in late April and early May by overwintered adults and development of eggs and larvae together takes some 5 to 6 weeks. By June the new generation is present and at least one-in some places possibly two-more generations follow. Although only adults overwinter they can scarcely be said to hibernate for odd adults are found amidst the ice in winter. Eggs are laid at water level attached singly to floating debris, including seeds; the larva can emerge from a submerged egg but eggs which dry in the first 2 days after laying are unlikely to hatch. There are five larval instars, but some Microvelia species have four or five. (SWL, 1959)

Distribution:

This is widely found across Northants found in 22 10k squares and 40 5k squares.

Habitat:

Found in lakes pools and ditches where there is open water and vegetation. It is commonly found on and around blanket weed.

Identification:

With 4 segments to the antennae this differentiates Microvelidae from Hebridae. The silver hair band on the pronotum differentiates it from M. buenoi (which is not currently found in Northants) and the hind tarsi T1 and T2 in M.pygmaea are the same size but in M.reticulata T2 is shorter.