This is the commonest and most widespread of the backswimmers or greater water boatmen. They are very distinctive in swimming mainly upside down and have two large hind legs with swimming hairs that look like paddles.

They are highly evolved predators and have a sharp rostrum or stabbing mouthpart which they use to feed on any swimming animal as large as small fish, tadpoles and dytiscid larvae. I would recommend you don't handle these as they can inflict a very painful bite. They also have an advanced sense of sight and use this to locate their prey.

Distribution:

Found in 120 sites and 34 10km squares across Northants this is the most of any of the bugs and is both widespread and Very Common. Across the country it is found that while N.glauca is the commonest species it can be replaced in highland and peaty areas by N.obliqua and ponds that are stony or have hard surfaces by N.maculata

Habitat:

This can occur in most water bodies and is abundant in most ponds, canals, ditches and large water bodies.

Identification:

This can be differentiated from the other 3 Notonectidae by appearance. The ground colour of the forewing is light and a green colour and has a dark mark at the intersection of the hemelytra. N.viridis is paler in colour, smaller when seen together and has a star mark at the intersection

Identification can be quite straight forward using the right features care needs to be taken as there appearance can be quite variable.