Water BoatmanWater boatmen rest on the surface of the water sensing vibrations. If something is disturbing the water they will dive to investigate. When the boatmen get around one or two inches of their prey they can then track it using their eye sight. They kill the prey by jabbing it with its rostrum (feeding tube) and injecting its toxic saliva. They are very effective predators and can catch and eat tadpoles, small fish and even the fearsome larvae of the diving beetle. They will also eat flying insects that have accidentally fallen onto the surface of the water and can fly between different ponds.
9 comments:
This is the most interesting story. I have never heard of these insects! I can't believe that they can even kill fish. Their sensors must really be amazing! Great picture!!!
Kelly
I have observed these things all my life and never thought to look up info about them...this sure taught me a lot.
Very nice information about the waterboatmen. When I looked at the title I though I would see some men in boat...lol. Nice close up shot of the insect.
He sounds like one ferocious insect. Have a great Sunday.
That is amazing. I don't know if all things that look sort of like this are the same, but the ones I've seen in person make it hard to imagine them eating tadpoles and fish. Wonderful post!
Nature's so amazing. Imagine a bug attacking small fish and tadpoles, then eating them!
Pete: I love the way they skitter across the water. They are truly amazing creatures.
I have always been fascinated by these bugs
Water skaters we call them
Interesting post, Peter. Enjoyed it.
Abraham Lincoln
—Brookville, Ohio
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