Milky Backswimmers

Notonecta

Milky Backswimmers are small water bugs that love to swim upside down! They have special legs that help them glide through the water, making them fun to watch.

Hábitat: Wetlands

Aspecto

The Milky Backswimmers has an elongated, somewhat flattened body, typically pale yellow, greenish, or brownish. Its most distinguishing feature is its milky, frosted-looking back which is its underside when it swims. This pale coloration helps it blend in while swimming upside down.

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Milky Backswimmers

Categoría

Insectos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Milky Backswimmers can deliver a painful 'bite' if handled, earning them the nickname 'water bee'!

Their huge eyes let them see almost all around, making it hard for prey to hide!

They can often spend winter frozen solid in ice and then thaw out to live again!

To stay anchored underwater, they cleverly hook onto plants using tiny claws on their legs!

Habilidades especiales

Milky Backswimmers has a silvery air bubble attached to its underside that helps them breathe underwater like a tiny scuba tank.

Milky Backswimmers can swim upside down because their strong hind legs propel them, helping them ambush prey from below.

Milky Backswimmers can paddle swiftly with their long, oar-like hind legs, allowing them to chase prey and escape danger quickly.

Milky Backswimmers can take to the air using strong wings, helping them find new ponds if their current home dries up.

Medidas y detalles

Envergadura: 20-40 mm
Tamaño: 10-20 mm
Esperanza de vida: 90-365 días
Velocidad de vuelo: 7 km/h
Cantidad de patas: 6

Dieta y alimentación

These aquatic predators love to munch on other small creatures swimming in their watery homes!

Alimentos principales

mosquito larvae
aquatic insects
small tadpoles
small fish

Método de búsqueda

Ambush

Conexiones ecológicas

hunts

Common House Mosquito

Culex pipiens

Eats larvae and pupae.

hunts

Common Frog

Rana temporaria

Preys on tadpoles.

eaten by

European Perch

Perca fluviatilis

Eaten by fish.

eaten by

Mallard Duck

Anas platyrhynchos

Preyed upon by birds.

Rasgos

Insectívoro

Este rasgo identifica a los organismos cuya dieta consiste principalmente en insectos y otros pequeños invertebrados.

Planeo

Los animales planeadores se mueven por el aire lanzándose y manteniendo el vuelo con estructuras corporales especializadas, sin batir las alas.

Humedal

Este rasgo de hábitat identifica especies que se encuentran en humedales, que son áreas de tierra saturadas de agua, ya sea permanente o estacionalmente, e incluyen marismas, pantanos y ciénagas.