Hobbies And Interests
Water Boatmen
The water boatman grows to be from a quarter inch to a half inch in length. The bug has a flattened appearance and it is oval, with its most striking features being its legs. The four hind legs resemble oars, flat and hairy, with the forelegs close to the head, used for grabbing air bubbles that enable the insect to stay underwater. The head of the water boatman seems to be an extension of its body and the eyes are large. The water boatman has the ability to fly and get out of the water, but it will return and then head into the shallows where it eats algae, plankton, decaying matter and protozoa. The water boatman cannot bite, which makes this bug a favorite meal of fish such as trout.
Giant Water Bugs
The giant water bug gets its name for its size, as this aquatic insect can grow to be as long as 4 inches long in adult form. The giant water bug possesses front legs that allow it to grasp, as they have a pair of claws and resemble those of a praying mantis. Freshwater ponds and streams with plenty of weeds and plants are perfect settings for this insect. The giant water bug is an ambush predator, attaching itself to an object like a cattail or other water plant and grabbing its prey as it swims past. Creatures such as small fish and frogs, along with snails, tadpoles and insects form the bulk of the diet of this bug. Once the giant water bug grabs its victim, it will inject fluids into it with its mouthparts and then suck out the juices. The giant water bug will deliver a very painful bite when handled. The bug has the nickname of electric light bug due to its tendency to flock to lights.
Water Striders
The water strider has the nickname of Jesus bug in some parts of the United States, stemming from its ability to walk on the surface of the water. The many worldwide species of this aquatic insect have a multitude of hairs on its undersides that repel water, allowing it to skate across the ponds and sluggish streams it inhabits. The water strider has a narrow body and most are more than .2 inches long. The water strider uses its middle pair of legs to propel itself, while the front legs capture its food and the back legs steer the insect and help to stop it. Tiny insects that have the misfortune of falling onto the surface of the water compose the diet of the water strider, which feels the minute vibrations the fallen bug creates to locate it. Fish and birds are these insects̵7; major predators.