This is a common and distinctive bug in Northants being a very small back swimming water boatman. It associates itself with dense weed beds in pools, ponds, slow rivers and dykes.

This is a comparatively “late” bug. Overwintered adults mate in late June and July and oviposit mainly within the leaves of such plants as water milfoil and water crowfoot. Egg development may take up to 4 weeks and larval up to 7: by the beginning of September most of the year's generation are adult.

The bugs are to be found clinging to aquatic plants and, if dense masses of Cladocera - its main food - are present, they can be abundant. The males have a thoracic stridulating apparatus and sounds play a part during courtship (SWL, 1959)

In Germany DNA research (H, 2018) is suggesting that there are two lineages for this species and the species could be split. However the voucher specimens we not retained so more work is needed.

Distribution:

Found in 66 sites across Northants and widespread according to the recording effort. Also in 20510km squares and very common. They are found widespread across England and wales but only in the southern parts of Scotland.

Habitat:

Found in clear water, weedy ponds, pools canals, slightly brackish dykes and slow rivers. Usually there are dense beds of hornwort, water crowfoot or water milfoil present.

Identification:

This is the only member of the Pleidae in Britain and is easily identifiable as the only small backswimmer in the UK. The entire body is strongly punctured and brownish-yellow in colour with darker markings.