Water Boatman, Homer Lake Wetland, October 16, 2021 Checking out the wetland last week (October 16) to see what was still lurking in "the depths" (ok, about a foot deep in the deepest section at that point) I pulled out two more true bugs we've not yet looked at in this blog. They have a lot in common but also some important differences. In common, both water boatmen and backswimmers are true bugs. As noted before, all true bugs (insect order hemiptera), such as the water scorpions and giant water bugs which we've already seen, have piercing mouthparts which they use to suck up their meals. In addition, like most of the aquatic insects and arachnids we've seen, water boatmen and backswimmers carry air bubbles around with them underwater like little scuba tanks. Also in common, both water boatmen and backswimmers have elongated back legs fringed with fine hairs that they use like oars to make their way through the water -- surprisingly fast, actually. Two impo...
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