What is a water boatman?

Answer 1

The aquatic insect known as a water boatman is either of the family Corixidae or Notonectidae; both bugs come in variations of brown and both live in still, or nearly still, freshwater environments. Both are found worldwide; they are of the same order, Hemiptera, and so are related to aphids and cicadas.

Corixidae is the family known in the US as water boatman; they swim near the bottom, on their fronts, and are mainly vegetarian.

A water boatman in the UK is of the family Notonectidae; they swim close to the surface, on their backs - they're also known as 'backswimmers' - and catch live food, from insects to any fish small enough for them to tackle. They have more variety in color, with shades of green or yellow, as well as brown.

The links below have more information on the varieties of these insects, and include further links with even more information.