Landcare Research - Manaaki Whenua

Landcare-Research -Manaaki Whenua

Water boatman

Sigara arguata (White)


Order: Hemiptera
Family: Corixidae

Size range

  • 5–6 mm

Distribution

  • Native

Life History

  • Aquatic
  • Found in freshwater lakes, ponds, troughs, slow moving weed–clogged streams
  • Some adults have wings – able to fly to a new water body if overcrowded or pond dries out
  • Predacious and bottom–foraging
  • Seems to feed on algae and decaying plant and animal material on the bottom of the pond
  • Air supply held in cavity underneath wings
  • Makes noise –stridulates