Family: Notonectidae, Backswimmers view all from this family

Description 3/8-1/2" (10-13 mm). Black underneath; white to dark green on back. Fore wings ivory-white with red markings and dark overlapping tips. Compound eyes large, black. Legs brown; fore and middle legs used for grasping, much longer hind legs flattened, fringed with hair, used for rowing. Color often paler in the West.

Warning Occasionally bites people swimming or wading.

Food Insects and other small aquatic animals.

Life Cycle Elongated white eggs are attached to plant stems underwater, where they hatch in a few weeks. Nymphs are active predators. Adults of 1st generation appear in July and overwinter. 1 or 2 generations a year.

Habitat Ponds and slow-flowing shallow streams.

Range Throughout North America.

Discussion Occasionally, a backswimmer will attack a person's bare hand or leg in the water, earning its reputation as a water bee or water wasp.