# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Milky Backswimmers](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Notonecta_maculata_MHNT.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Notonecta_maculata_MHNT.jpg) ## Appearance 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hemiptera - **Family:** Notonectidae - **Genus:** Notonecta ## Interesting facts - 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! ## Special abilities - **Underwater Breather:** Milky Backswimmers has a silvery air bubble attached to its underside that helps them breathe underwater like a tiny scuba tank. - **Upside-Down Swimmer:** Milky Backswimmers can swim upside down because their strong hind legs propel them, helping them ambush prey from below. - **Powerful Paddler:** Milky Backswimmers can paddle swiftly with their long, oar-like hind legs, allowing them to chase prey and escape danger quickly. - **Amphibious Flyer:** Milky Backswimmers can take to the air using strong wings, helping them find new ponds if their current home dries up. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 20-40 mm - **Size:** 10-20 mm - **Lifespan:** 90-365 days - **Flight Speed:** 7 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These aquatic predators love to munch on other small creatures swimming in their watery homes! - **Primary Foods:** mosquito larvae, aquatic insects, small tadpoles, small fish - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Eats larvae and pupae. - **Hunts:** Common Frog (*Rana temporaria*) — Preys on tadpoles. - **Eaten by:** [European Perch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-perch) (*Perca fluviatilis*) — Eaten by fish. - **Eaten by:** Mallard Duck (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — Preyed upon by birds. ## Traits - [Gliding](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gliding): Gliding animals move through the air by launching themselves and maintaining flight with specialized body structures, without flapping wings. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful near water! Always stay close to an adult when exploring. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Milky Backswimmers? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Milky Backswimmers's wingspan? 20-40 mm ### How big is Milky Backswimmers? 10-20 mm ### How long does Milky Backswimmers live? 90-365 days ### How fast can Milky Backswimmers fly? 7 km/h ### What does Milky Backswimmers eat? These aquatic predators love to munch on other small creatures swimming in their watery homes! ### Where is Milky Backswimmers usually found? Wetlands ### How does Milky Backswimmers hunt? Ambush ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Milky Backswimmers: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/milky-backswimmers)