Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Raising Forage and Bait Water boatmen/Backswimmers

I have an abundant population of black beetles that swim in the shallows of my ponds. I'm thinking they are Water Boatmen, and have done a little research on them trying to distinguish them from Backwimmers. Research indicated Backswimmers may bite humans?

Here are some details that may help identify what I'm seeing:

They are black and are constantly swimming in circular or figure 8 patterns

They will try and hit pellets

They are abundant, and swim with relative confidence. These two factors lead me to believe they are not preferred forage of BG or SMB otherwise I'd see far fewer, if any.

Any ideas?

Giant Water Bug

Giant Water Bug are called as Electric light bugs as well as known as toe biters. It is a type of flat bodied insect. The giant water bug moves slowly in the water. It stays motionless and awaits for the prey. When its prey moves by them it grasps its prey using its strong front legs. Giant water Bugs eat tadpoles and small fishes.

Back Swimmer

This insect's name fits itself perfectly. It swims upside down with its legs towards the water's surface. It mostly preys on blood worms. Back Swimmers have large eyes and hairy hind legs.

Water Scorpion

Water Scorpions are a type of water bug are a kind of carnivorous insects. It uses its larg and powerful forelimbs to grasp its prey. It then sucks out of the prey’s body fluid. It mostly preys on tadpoles and small fish. It walks slowly on the bottom and in aquatic plants where it searches for its prey.

Water Strider

These type of water bugs are also carnivorous insects. Water Striders are easily identified based on its second and the third pair of legs and has long legs which are double the length of its body size. It uses its front legs which are short to catch it prey which are usually insects trapped on the water's surface. They sense vibration on the surface of the water and that is how it finds its prey.

Water Boatman

Like the other kind of water bugs it is entirely different because it is the only vegetarian water bug. Water Boatman have a triangular head,vflattened body surface and the body size is about a half inch length. It is excellent at swimming because of its flattened shape of the body with oar shaped legs. Water Boatman uses its mouth part like a needle inserting it into plants injecting it's saliva which breaks down the plant parts. It then sucks up the juices.

TJ:

If you have a long handled net with fine mesh, you could grab one for a closer view. Use the macro setting on your camera to take a pic of one and post it.

We learned so much that day.

In fact, all the critters on CJ's list are true bugs (sucking insects with soft wing covers), and will bite you (or more correctly, stick you). All except possibly the boatman will take small fish if they can catch them.

There are also water beetles, standard and extra large. Both have very smooth and shiny black or dark brown thorax and wing covers. Both bite, but not seriously like giant water bugs. The regular size beetles swim frantically in the familiar figure 8 pattern, the large ones swim submerged more than on top. Both eat very small fish whenever they can catch them.

Looking for something else, I stumbled across this thread which discussed these backswimmers.

Sound like whirligig beetles in your pond

Thanks Josh