First time encountering this bug, it was found in our pool. Its a great underwater swimmer with long back legs with what looks like flippers. It has huge eyes and has wings. When agitated the legs flair out like a spider. Of course my son wants to know if it bites!
We live in Point Pleasant, NJ.
Thanks for any thoughts
Vicki
Here a a few more views.
and...
This looks like a backswimmer (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Notonectidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/2f43ync for an example. They tend to swim right at the water surface, upside-down (hence the common name) where they look for prey (usually other insects); they do dive readily when disturbed. They are capable of inflicting a painful (but not dangerous) bite if handled carelessly. There are other insects called water boatmen (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Corixidae) that are similar in appearance , but their hind legs have much longer fringe hairs - see http://tinyurl.com/2cjr5p2 for an example. These primarily are plant feeders, and do not bite.
Thank You suunto! After looking at the close-up that is our bug-the backswimmer. We will let it go and wish it well.
Thank you for letting it go - they are neat insects; we often see them in our stock watering tank...
