Traits: Aquatic insect with four long legs used for swimming; front legs modified to form scoops; the nymphs and adults look alike.

Habitat: Margins of lakes, ponds, estuaries

Foods: Decaying leaves

Eaten by: Diving beetles, frogs, fish, waterfowl, shorebirds

Do You Know? Water boatmen are like scuba divers. They trap an air bubble under their wings at the water surface, then use this "air tank" to breathe while diving underwater.