Do Water Boatman Bite?

Do Water Boatman Bite 2021?

Water boatmen and backswimmers are two of the most popular pool pests. These insects are members of the Hemiptera group of aquatic posts. The humans are not normally harmed by the bugs, but the backswimmer bite is very painful.

Although most pests eat the algae, the backswimmers can eat water boatmen and other pests. Because none of the water boatmen and backswimmers can survive for a long time if they leave out the water, you need to remove the food source and then the nesting areas to prevent the pests from entering the water pool.

Do water boatman bite?

Do Water Boatman Bite

It is very hard to distinguish between water boatmen and backswimmers, but only backswimmers bite.

Humans are not harmed by the water boatmen, and also they do not bite.

They are mostly herbivores, meaning they solely eat plant litter and materials. The boatmen can consume other aquatic pests, and bigger backswimmers will bite people.

Many species consume smaller pests, although the most can simply consume the plants.

They can suck nutrients and sap from algae and plants found in the freshwater streams and ponds using a soft tubular mouthpiece.

They eat the plant to disintegrate the outer covering and then suck the nutrients out with the straw-like mouthpiece.

Backswimmers, on the other hand, can bite. And these bugs are bigger boatmen. And backswimmers bite are very painful, but it is not harmful to humans. It’s critical to distinguish between water boatmen and backswimmers.

Water boatman vs. Backswimmer bite

Because the lesser boatmen do not bite, you were most likely bitten by bigger boatmen if you were bitten by a water boatman.

If threatened, startled, or trapped, the larger boatmen will bite. You will feel the bite and maybe witness skin injury, rashing, or swelling if you’re bitten by the water pests.

Although the bite is not harmful, it should be disinfected as soon as possible. If you can’t identify it, you need to call a professional.

Can water boatmen fly?

Can water boatmen fly

Water boatmen have the ability to fly and are most active at night. As they search for the plant material and food, they frequently fly near the light sources found in pools, streams, and ponds.

During the night, water boatmen are drawn to the lights and float near the lights for the food. If you use a light under the water to point into your pond, you might be able to discover them at the bottom of the pond.

Water boatman predators

Water boatman predators

Water boatmen are preyed upon by many predators in the wild.

Dragonflies, birds, spiders, fish, toads, and frogs are some of the most popular predators. 

Some larger fish and large fry are among the species that consume backswimmers.

Backswimmers are also preyed upon by aerial predators from above, as well as bigger toads and frogs.

Backswimmer vs. Water Boatman

Backswimmer vs. Water Boatman

There are two types of water boatmen: lesser water boatmen and bigger boatmen.

Bugs that can swim on the front limbs are called lesser boatmen, and whereas the bigger boatmen can swim on the back limbs. Due to this trait, larger boatmen are referred to as the backswimmers.

They can swim over the water using the rear legs.

And, there are the lesser backswimmers that are smaller than common lesser boatmen.

Backswimmers belong to the Pleidae family, and whereas boatmen belong to the Corixidae.

Here’s a list to help you tell the difference between boatmen and backswimmers:


  • Lesser boatmen


  • Lager water boatmen
  • Lesser backswimmer

And the larger boatmen can bite people. Their bite is very painful, but it’s not harmful. Lesser boatmen aren’t aggressive.

However, many individuals make the mistake of the identification of these two bugs.

Author Bryant