Help Identify Insect

[ColinJ]

It is a waterboatman
Try to catch it swimming. If it swims on its back, it is a lesser waterboatman, if on its front it is a greater waterboatman.

If it drowns, it's an ex-waterboatman!

 

[Fnaar]

How do we know it's male? I think we should settle on waterboatperson

 

[raleighnut]

 

[Ganymede]

Do lesser/greater waterboatmans fly into trees? I thought they were entirely aquatic

From the RSPB site:

"Where will I see it?
"In the pond. Sometimes flying during warm weather."

 

[Stephenite]

I've spent weeks looking down a binocular at these little blighters; identifying them in freshwater surveys in the east of Scotland. But it was over two decades ago. You should have taken a picture side on because there's a patch of shading that's an indicator. Notonecta sp. obviously. I seem to remember reading that young adults take to the wing to colonise further ponds. I do love ponds. Fantastic ecosystems.

 

[Tin Pot]

[QUOTE 3926014, member: 9609"]I found the following on the rockery next to the garden pond, not a very good picture as it wouldn't stay still then it flew off. I tend to think this is the one of the little insects that I have observed during the last few months in the pond, rather a graceful little mover under the water.
about 30mm long, small wings and was very noisy (wing noises) when it flew up into the trees, I don't think it was a moth.
Any clues ?

[/QUOTE]

Bodysnatcher.

 

[earlestownflya]

is it a moth bonking a waterboatman?

 

[raleighnut]

[QUOTE 3926551, member: 9609"]in your dreams...

seriously that is on beautiful little insect, image link - I really need to get into insects, they're the most fascinating things, probably as much so as birds, I was lucky with birds that I have a parent obsessed by them, insects will be a huge learning curve as I know next to nothing...[/QUOTE]
I dunno, I'd bet you're quite up to speed on midges

 

[Lilliburlero]

How do we know it's male?

Its beard.