Ponds & Lakes
191 species found in this habitat
African Blue Emperor
Anax speratus
A large, powerful dragonfly widespread across sub-Saharan Africa. Males have a bright blue abdomen and green thorax simi...
African Diving Beetle
Cybister tripunctatus
A large diving beetle widespread across Africa and southern Asia. It is one of the most common large aquatic beetles in ...
African Giant Water Bug
Lethocerus cordofanus
A massive aquatic predatory bug with powerful raptorial forelegs for catching prey. It can grow to over 80 mm and is one...
African Whirligig Beetle
Dineutus aereus
A bronze-colored whirligig beetle common across sub-Saharan African freshwater habitats. It swims rapidly in circles on ...
Alder Leaf Beetle
Agelastica alni
A metallic dark violet-blue beetle that feeds on alder trees. Heavy infestations can completely defoliate alder trees al...
Amazonian Water Scorpion
Ranatra spp.
A stick-like aquatic bug with an extremely elongated body and long breathing siphon at the rear. It hangs motionless nea...
American Horse Fly
Tabanus americanus
One of the largest horse flies in North America with a dark brown body and conspicuous green or purple iridescent eyes. ...
American Xyelid Sawfly
Xyela bakeri
A minute primitive sawfly native to western North America with the family's characteristic elongated third antennal segm...
Angular-winged Pygmy Grasshopper
Tettix japonica
A small, dark pygmy grasshopper found across East Asia. It is one of the most studied tetrigids in Japanese orthopteran ...
Arctic Caddisfly
Apatania zonella
A small, hairy-winged caddisfly with dark brown wings held tent-like over the body. Larvae build portable cases from san...
Aurora Bluetail Damselfly
Ischnura aurora
A delicate damselfly with a bright orange-and-blue tail tip, found across the Pacific region. It is one of the most wide...
Australian Diving Beetle
Cybister godeffroyi
A large olive-green diving beetle found in freshwater habitats across Australia. It is one of the most commonly encounte...
Australian Emperor Dragonfly
Anax papuensis
A large, powerful dragonfly with a green thorax and blue-spotted abdomen. It is a strong flier commonly seen patrolling ...
Autumn Caddisfly
Limnephilus flavicornis
A large autumnal caddisfly with golden-brown wings and yellow antennae. One of the last caddisfly species to emerge each...
Azure Damselfly
Coenagrion puella
A delicate bright blue and black damselfly and one of the most abundant damselfly species in Europe. Males display a U-s...
Azure Damselfly of Azores
Ischnura hastata
On the Azores, this species has evolved the only known all-female population of any odonate. These females reproduce thr...
Backswimmer
Notonecta glauca
An aquatic bug that swims upside down just beneath the water surface, using its long hind legs as oars. Its back is keel...
Balloon Dance Fly
Hilara maura
A dance fly famous for its elaborate mating ritual in which males present silk-wrapped prey gifts to females. Males spin...
Banded General Soldier Fly
Stratiomys potamida
A large, boldly marked soldier fly with a broad flat abdomen bearing yellow lateral markings. Its aquatic larvae are elo...
Banded Groundling
Brachythemis leucosticta
A small, dark African dragonfly with distinctive banded wings. Males develop a pruinose black body while females retain ...
Banded Pennant
Celithemis fasciata
A medium-sized dragonfly with bold dark bands across all four wings. Its body is dark with reddish markings. It perches ...
Belostoma Giant Water Bug
Belostoma flumineum
A medium-sized, oval giant water bug found across North America. Males carry eggs cemented to their backs by females unt...
Black Saddlebags
Tramea lacerata
A large migratory dragonfly with conspicuous black patches at the base of its hindwings. It flies for extended periods a...
Black-tailed Skimmer
Orthetrum cancellatum
A robust dragonfly with a powder-blue abdomen tipped with black in mature males. It basks flat on bare ground and gravel...
Bladetail
Lindenia tetraphylla
A large gomphid dragonfly with leaf-shaped abdominal expansions at the tail....
Blue Dasher
Pachydiplax longipennis
A medium-sized dragonfly with a powdery blue abdomen and metallic green eyes in males. It is one of the most common drag...
Blue Skimmer
Orthetrum caledonicum
A common Australian dragonfly where mature males develop a powdery blue pruinescence over their abdomen. Females and you...
Blue-eyed Darner
Rhionaeschna multicolor
A large darner dragonfly with striking bright blue eyes and blue spots on a brown body. It is one of the most common lar...
Bordered Great Diving Beetle
Dytiscus circumflexus
A large British diving beetle similar to D. marginalis but with expanded yellow margins. It prefers larger, more permane...
Brine Fly
Ephydra hians
A fly that thrives in the extremely alkaline waters of Mono Lake....
Broad Scarlet
Crocothemis servilia
A robust dragonfly where males are brilliant scarlet-red with a broad flattened abdomen. Females are olive-brown. It is ...
Broad-shouldered Diving Beetle
Dytiscus latissimus
The largest European diving beetle and one of the largest aquatic beetles in the world. It inhabits clean, fish-poor lak...
Broad-Shouldered Water Strider
Microvelia americana
A tiny water strider relative that walks on the surface of ponds and puddles. It is widespread across the Americas on st...
Brown Hawker
Aeshna grandis
A large dragonfly entirely brown with amber-tinted wings, unique among European hawkers. Its warm brown coloring makes i...
Burrowing Mayfly
Hexagenia limbata
Creates massive synchronized emergences so dense they appear on weather radar. Billions emerge simultaneously from lake ...
Caddisfly
Limnephilus rhombicus
Moth-like adults with hairy wings held tent-like over the body. Aquatic larvae are famous architects that build portable...
Calico Pennant
Celithemis elisa
A small dragonfly with triangular red or yellow wing spots creating a calico pattern. Males have red body and wing marki...
Canada Darner
Aeshna canadensis
A common large darner of northeastern North America with blue and green markings. Its notched thoracic stripes help dist...
Cinnamon Sedge
Limnephilus lunatus
A medium-sized caddisfly with warm cinnamon-brown wings bearing a crescent-shaped pale marking. Common near still waters...
Claret Dun Mayfly
Leptophlebia vespertina
A dark-winged mayfly that emerges in the evening over still and slow-moving waters....
Colymbetes Diving Beetle
Colymbetes fuscus
A medium-sized diving beetle with finely lined yellowish-brown elytra found across Europe. It inhabits a wide range of s...
Common Alderfly
Sialis lutaria
A dark smoky-winged insect commonly found near still or slow-moving waters across Europe. Its aquatic larvae are predato...
Common Blue Damselfly
Enallagma cyathigerum
One of the most widespread damselflies. Males are sky blue with black markings. Forms mating wheels — a unique heart-sha...
Common Bluetail
Ischnura elegans
A small damselfly with a distinctive blue tail-light on segment eight of the abdomen. Females occur in multiple color fo...
Common Clubtail Dragonfly
Ictinogomphus ferox
A large, boldly marked black and yellow dragonfly with a distinctly clubbed abdomen tip. It is a powerful flier that per...
Common Darter
Sympetrum striolatum
Europe's most abundant dragonfly, with mature males turning bright orange-red. It is often the last dragonfly flying in ...
Common Green Darner
Anax junius
A large migratory dragonfly with a green thorax and blue abdomen found across North America. It undertakes multigenerati...
Common Malaria Mosquito
Anopheles quadrimaculatus
A freshwater mosquito that was the primary malaria vector in the eastern United States. Larvae float horizontally at the...
Common Spongillafly
Sisyra fuscata
A small dark lacewing whose larvae are aquatic parasitoids of freshwater sponges. One of the few neuropterans with aquat...
Common Spreadwing
Lestes sponsa
A slender metallic green damselfly that characteristically holds its wings half-open at rest. It is widespread across Eu...
Common Sun Beetle
Elaphrus cupreus
A small, brilliantly metallic copper-green beetle with distinctive eye-like pits on its elytra. It runs rapidly on wet m...
Common Whitetail
Plathemis lydia
A stocky dragonfly where mature males sport a chalky white abdomen and dark wing bands. It is one of the most frequently...
Comstock's Net-Winged Midge
Agathon comstocki
A western North American net-winged midge found on waterfall-splashed rocks. Larvae have a unique caterpillar-like body ...
Coppery Chlaenius
Chlaenius cumatilis
A medium-sized ground beetle with brilliant metallic blue-green coloring and fine pubescence covering its elytra. It is ...
Crawling Water Beetle
Haliplus ruficollis
A tiny, oval water beetle with a yellowish body covered in rows of dark punctures. Unlike diving beetles, it crawls slow...
Creeping Water Bug
Ilyocoris cimicoides
A robust aquatic bug that crawls along pond bottoms and delivers a painful bite....
Dalmatian Spongillafly
Sisyra dalii
A rare spongillafly described from the eastern Mediterranean region. Associated with clean freshwater habitats harboring...
Dark Spongillafly
Sisyra nigra
A small blackish lacewing found near European freshwater habitats. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to lights near wat...
Dimple-back Ground Beetle
Elaphrus riparius
A small, fast-running beetle with distinctive cup-shaped depressions on its elytra that create a dimpled appearance. It ...
Drake Mackerel Mayfly
Ephemera glaucops
A large European burrowing mayfly with distinctive dark markings on its wings. It emerges in synchronous swarms during w...
Drone Fly
Eristalis tenax
A large hoverfly that is an excellent mimic of the honey bee, complete with similar coloring and buzzing flight. Its aqu...
Eastern Forktail
Ischnura verticalis
A small damselfly where males are green and black with a blue tail tip. Young females are bright orange but turn olive-g...
Eastern Pondhawk
Erythemis simplicicollis
A robust skimmer dragonfly where mature males are powdery blue and females are vivid green. It is an aggressive predator...
Eastern Toe-biter
Benacus griseus
A very large, flattened brown water bug found in eastern North America. Males carry eggs on their backs until they hatch...
Emperor Dragonfly
Anax imperator
One of the largest dragonflies in Europe. Powerful flier that patrols territories along waterways. Can fly at speeds up ...
Epomis Ground Beetle
Epomis dejeani
A beetle whose larvae lure and devour frogs — a rare case of predator-prey role reversal. The larva waggles its antennae...
Familiar Bluet
Enallagma civile
One of the most common and widespread bluet damselflies in North America. Males are bright blue with black markings on t...
Flame Skimmer
Libellula saturata
A brilliantly red-orange dragonfly found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Males are unmistakable with their...
Flat-Horned Dung Beetle
Onthophagus planicornis
A small, dark tunneling dung beetle with laterally flattened horns in major males. Found in tropical Africa, it is a rap...
Four-Spotted Chaser
Libellula quadrimaculata
A medium-sized dragonfly with two dark spots on the leading edge of each wing, totaling four. It is one of the most wide...
Fulvous Forest Skimmer
Neurothemis fulvia
A beautiful dragonfly showing dramatic sexual dimorphism. Males have rich amber-orange wings with dark tips, while femal...
Ghost Darner
Anax longipes
A large green-eyed dragonfly with a distinctively long reddish-brown abdomen....
Giant Black Water Beetle
Hydrophilus triangularis
The largest water beetle in North America, with a shiny black oval body. Larvae are voracious predators while adults are...
Giant Caddisfly
Phryganea grandis
The largest European caddisfly with mottled brown-and-cream wings spanning up to 60 mm. Its larvae build portable cases ...
Giant Case-Builder Caddis
Phryganea bipunctata
A large caddisfly with spotted wings found in northern and central Europe. Larvae construct conspicuous helical cases fr...
Giant Darner Dragonfly
Tetracanthagyna plagiata
One of the largest dragonflies in the world, with a wingspan exceeding 16 cm. The body is brown with green markings and ...
Giant Water Bug
Lethocerus americanus
One of the largest true bugs. Powerful predator that catches fish, frogs, and even small snakes. Males carry eggs on the...
Globe Skimmer
Pantala flavescens
Holds the record for the longest insect migration — crossing the Indian Ocean from India to East Africa, a journey of ov...
Goat Biting Louse
Bovicola caprae
A chewing louse infesting domestic goats worldwide. It feeds on skin flakes and causes intense itching and coat damage....
Green Chironomid
Tanytarsus pallidicornis
A small greenish midge common in clean flowing water habitats. Larvae build portable silk tubes attached to stone surfac...
Green Lestes
Lestes viridis
A metallic green damselfly that lays eggs into the bark of overhanging trees. Creates distinctive oviposition scars on w...
Ground Skimmer
Diplacodes trivialis
A small dragonfly that becomes powder-blue with age in males. It is one of the most common dragonflies in tropical Asia....
Halloween Pennant
Celithemis eponina
A distinctive dragonfly with boldly patterned orange and brown bands across its wings. It perches at the tips of vegetat...
Harris's Diving Beetle
Dytiscus harrisii
A large North American diving beetle found in cold, clear lakes and bog ponds. It is one of the largest diving beetles o...
Horned Clubtail
Arigomphus cornutus
A medium-sized clubtail dragonfly with small horn-like projections on the top of the head. Its body is yellow-green with...
Hyacinth Glider
Miathyria marcella
A delicate dragonfly with a violet-tinted thorax and a slender banded abdomen. It is common in the Americas from the sou...
Iris Sawfly
Rhadinoceraea micans
A small, metallic blue-black sawfly whose grayish larvae with dark heads feed along the edges of iris leaves, producing ...
Jack Pine Sawfly
Neodiprion pratti banksianae
A serious defoliator of jack pine in the Great Lakes region. Periodic outbreaks can strip thousands of hectares of jack ...
Japanese Diving Beetle
Cybister japonicus
A large diving beetle native to Japan, once common but now increasingly rare. It has suffered severe declines due to hab...
Japanese Giant Water Bug
Lethocerus deyrolli
Known as 'ta-garame' in Japanese, this is one of Japan's largest aquatic insects. A fearsome ambush predator that can ca...
Japanese Red Dragonfly
Sympetrum frequens
Known as 'akane' or 'aka-tonbo' in Japanese, this red dragonfly is one of the most iconic insects in Japanese culture. M...
Japanese Whirligig Beetle
Gyrinus japonicus
A common whirligig beetle in East Asia found on still and slow-flowing water surfaces. It forms large social groups espe...
Jet Beetle
Stenus comma
A tiny, goggle-eyed rove beetle that hunts with a remarkable extendable labium tipped with adhesive pads. It can also sk...
Korean Water Scorpion
Laccotrephes japonensis
A flat, leaf-shaped aquatic predator found in Japan and Korea. Despite its name, it is not a true scorpion but a true bu...
Lance-tipped Darner
Aeshna constricta
A large brown darner with blue spots common in eastern North America. It is a late-season flier, active well into autumn...
Lesser Emperor
Anax parthenope
A large dragonfly with a brownish thorax and distinctive blue saddle at the base of its abdomen. It is a strong migrant ...
Lesser Silver Water Beetle
Hydrochara flavipes
A medium-sized water scavenger beetle found in still waters across East Asia. Its legs have distinctive yellowish tarsi....
Lesser Water Boatman
Sigara striata
A small water boatman with fine dark striations across its forewings. It is among the most abundant aquatic insects in E...
Long-horned Caddisfly
Mystacides longicornis
A slender caddisfly with antennae three times its body length....
Long-tailed Dance Fly
Rhamphomyia longicauda
A small dark fly where females inflate their legs with air to appear larger during mating swarms. Males present nuptial ...
Longhorn Caddisfly
Oecetis ochracea
A slender caddisfly with antennae much longer than its body. Larvae are unusual among caddisflies in being active predat...
Maculipennis Complex Mosquito
Anopheles maculipennis
A medium-sized mosquito that is the type species of a complex of at least eight sibling species across Europe and wester...
Malagasy Sprite
Pseudagrion malgassicum
A delicate damselfly with a slender blue and black body. It is one of the most widespread and adaptable endemic odonates...
Marsh Treader
Hydrometra stagnorum
An extremely slender, stick-like bug with a greatly elongated head. It walks slowly across floating vegetation and water...
Midge
Chironomus plumosus
A delicate, mosquito-like fly with feathery antennae that forms enormous mating swarms at dusk. Despite their appearance...
Migrant Hawker
Aeshna mixta
A medium-sized hawker dragonfly that has significantly expanded its range northward in Europe. It flies late into autumn...
Mitchell's Satyr Butterfly
Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii
A small brown butterfly with distinctive eyespots found in calcareous fens of the Great Lakes region. Fewer than 20 popu...
Mother-of-Pearl Caddis
Glyphotaelius pellucidus
A large European caddisfly with translucent wings that shimmer with iridescence. Larvae construct flat cases from pieces...
Mothlike Caddisfly
Triaenodes bicolor
An elegant caddisfly with pale straw-colored wings and long antennae found near still waters. Larvae build slender spira...
Neon Skimmer
Libellula croceipennis
A brilliantly red dragonfly of the American Southwest with amber-tinted wings. Males are an intense fluorescent red that...
Neotropical Backswimmer
Buenoa antigone
A small aquatic bug that swims upside-down using its long oar-like hind legs. Its pale ventral surface provides camoufla...
Neotropical Toe-Biter
Belostoma elongatum
A large aquatic predatory bug with flattened body and powerful raptorial forelegs. It is common in South American freshw...
North American Backswimmer
Notonecta undulata
A common backswimmer across North America that hunts by floating upside down at the surface. Its large eyes help it spot...
North American Spongillafly
Climacia areolaris
A small spongillafly found across eastern North America near fresh water. Its larvae feed on freshwater sponges attached...
Noterus Diving Beetle
Noterus clavicornis
A small, oval, yellowish-brown diving beetle with distinctively thickened antennae. It is widespread across Europe in st...
Orange-bellied Skimmer
Libellula jesseana
A rare North American dragonfly found in acidic bog ponds and fens. It is extremely localized across scattered populatio...
Ornate Soldier Fly
Odontomyia ornata
A medium-sized soldier fly with a green and black patterned abdomen and a somewhat flattened body. Adults are sluggish f...
Paddle-tailed Darner
Aeshna palmata
A large, boldly marked darner of western North America with distinctive paddle-shaped cerci. Males have bright blue and ...
Painted Reed Beetle
Plateumaris sericea
A brilliantly metallic leaf beetle found on aquatic plants, varying from green to blue, copper, or purple. Larvae feed o...
Painted Skimmer
Libellula semifasciata
An attractive dragonfly with amber-tinted wings marked by brown bands and spots. It is an early-season flier in eastern ...
Phantom Midge
Chaoborus crystallinus
A nearly transparent midge whose larvae are planktonic predators in lakes. Larvae migrate vertically in the water column...
Ponderous Borer
Trichocnemis spiculatus
One of the largest cerambycids in North America, this prionine breeds in the roots and lower trunks of dead ponderosa pi...
Predaceous Diving Beetle
Cybister lateralimarginalis
A large olive-green diving beetle found across southern Europe and Africa. It is a powerful swimmer that hunts a range o...
Rambur's Forktail
Ischnura ramburii
A widespread New World damselfly where males are green and black with a blue tail tip. Females come in orange, olive, an...
Red and Blue Damselfly
Xanthagrion erythroneurum
A small damselfly where males display striking red and blue coloring. It is one of the most colorful damselflies in Aust...
Red-eyed Damselfly
Erythromma najas
A stocky blue damselfly with distinctive dark red eyes. It spends most of its time perched on floating lily pads rather ...
Red-faced Skimmer
Orthetrum testaceum
A robust Asian dragonfly where mature males develop a vivid red face and body. Females are brownish-yellow with subtle m...
Red-veined Darter
Sympetrum fonscolombii
A striking darter dragonfly with red veins on the leading edge of the wings and a vivid blue underside to the eyes. Male...
Redcoat Damselfly
Xanthocnemis zealandica
A small endemic damselfly found throughout New Zealand, named for the bright red body of the male. It is one of the most...
Reed Beetle
Donacia crassipes
A striking aquatic leaf beetle with metallic golden-green to coppery elytra and elongated hind legs. It is one of the la...
Ridged Water Scavenger Beetle
Helochares obscurus
A small brown water beetle found in well-vegetated ponds across Europe. Females carry their egg sacs beneath the body un...
Ringed China-mark Moth
Parapoynx stratiotata
A pretty white moth with brown ringed markings, closely associated with aquatic habitats. Its caterpillars are fully aqu...
Round Sand Beetle
Omophron limbatum
A highly distinctive, nearly circular ground beetle with a domed shape and striking pattern of pale yellow with dark gre...
Ruddy Darter
Sympetrum sanguineum
A small dragonfly where mature males turn deep blood-red with a distinctly club-shaped abdomen. Females remain golden-ye...
Salt and Pepper Microcaddis
Agraylea multipunctata
A very small caddisfly with speckled wings found in algae-rich ponds and lakes across North America. Larvae build tiny p...
Salt Flat Tiger Beetle
Eunota togata
A pale whitish tiger beetle adapted to saline environments in western North America. Its light coloring provides camoufl...
San Francisco Forktail Damselfly
Ischnura gemina
A tiny damselfly restricted to a few freshwater ponds near the San Francisco Bay coast. It is threatened by urban encroa...
Sand-Dwelling Caddis
Molanna angustata
A caddisfly whose larvae build flattened shield-shaped cases from sand grains. The wide case acts like a snowshoe, preve...
Sapphire Flutterer
Rhyothemis triangularis
A small dragonfly with sapphire-blue metallic patches on its hindwings. It has a fluttering, butterfly-like flight patte...
Scarlet Skimmer
Crocothemis erythraea
A medium-sized dragonfly where males are entirely vivid scarlet red, including the veins of the wings. It is one of the ...
Screech Beetle
Hygrobia hermanni
A medium-sized, reddish-brown water beetle that produces an audible squeaking sound when handled. It is found in muddy p...
Selika Dropwing
Trithemis selika
A robust dragonfly with crimson to dark red coloration in mature males and brown in females. It perches conspicuously on...
Sharp-Grooved Diving Beetle
Acilius sulcatus
A medium-sized diving beetle widespread across Europe, recognized by the deeply grooved elytra of females. It is a fast ...
Silky Chlaenius
Chlaenius vestitus
A medium-sized ground beetle covered in fine silky pubescence giving it a velvety green appearance. It is commonly found...
Singing Water Boatman
Micronecta scholtzi
The loudest animal relative to body size on Earth. This 2 mm aquatic bug produces mating calls reaching 99.2 decibels by...
Slaty Skimmer
Libellula incesta
A dark, slate-blue dragonfly of eastern North America. Mature males are uniformly dark blue-black, making them distincti...
Sloane's Tiger Beetle
Pseudotetracha sloaneae
A rare nocturnal tiger beetle endemic to inland salt lakes of southern Australia. It has unusually large eyes and long l...
Small Amber Spinner
Caenis macrura
A tiny mayfly whose amber-colored spinners fall to the water in dense clouds. Nymphs live among fine sediments in slow-f...
Small Brown Stonefly
Nemoura cinerea
A very common small brown stonefly found in a wide range of freshwater habitats across Europe. It is one of the most tol...
Small Minnow Mayfly
Callibaetis ferrugineus
A mottled brown mayfly common in still waters across North America. Nymphs are excellent swimmers that mimic small minno...
Small Square-Gilled Mayfly
Caenis luctuosa
A minute mayfly with distinctive square-shaped gills on its nymphs. Adults swarm in enormous numbers near water at twili...
Smoky Alderfly
Sialis fuliginosa
A European alderfly distinguished from S. lutaria by its preference for flowing water rather than still ponds. It has da...
Soldier Fly
Odontomyia tigrina
A brightly colored soldier fly with aquatic larvae that filter-feed in ponds....
South American Whirligig Beetle
Gyrinus ovatus
A widespread whirligig beetle found across temperate and tropical regions of the Americas. It is highly gregarious and f...
Southern Hawker
Aeshna cyanea
A large, inquisitive dragonfly with apple-green and blue markings on a dark body. It is known for its curiosity and ofte...
Southern Long-legged Fly
Chrysotus gramineus
A tiny, brilliantly metallic green long-legged fly commonly found on vegetation near water. It runs rapidly across leaf ...
Spined Sweat Bee
Agapostemon splendens
A brilliantly iridescent green sweat bee with bluish reflections found in the eastern United States. Both sexes are enti...
Spotted Diving Beetle
Graphoderus cinereus
A medium-sized diving beetle with distinctive mottled brown and cream patterning. It inhabits clean, well-vegetated pond...
Spotted Grass Moth
Rivula propinqualis
A tiny yellowish moth with a distinctive dark spot on each forewing. It is extremely common in damp grassy habitats acro...
Stenus Jet Rove Beetle
Stenus bimaculatus
A small rove beetle with bulging eyes and an extensible sticky labium used to capture springtails. It can skim across wa...
Streamlined Backswimmer
Notonecta irrorata
A pale backswimmer with mottled wings found in still and slow-moving waters across North America. Like other backswimmer...
Striped Whirligig Beetle
Gyrinus substriatus
A small whirligig beetle common across Europe, with fine longitudinal lines on the elytra. It aggregates in large swarms...
Sunburst Diving Beetle
Thermonectus marmoratus
A striking yellow-and-black spotted diving beetle from the American Southwest and Mexico. Its larvae have been discovere...
Tanypod Predatory Midge
Tanypus punctipennis
A predatory midge whose larvae hunt other small invertebrates in soft sediments. Adults have distinctively spotted wings...
Tau Emerald
Hemicordulia tau
A metallic emerald-green dragonfly with bright green eyes and a distinctive T-shaped yellow marking on the abdomen. It i...
Thai Aquatic Firefly
Luciola aquatilis
A small Thai firefly notable for having truly aquatic larvae with functional gills. It was one of the first fireflies co...
Tiger Hoverfly
Helophilus pendulus
A distinctive hoverfly with bold yellow and black stripes on the thorax. It breeds in muddy, organically enriched water....
Turk's Tiger Beetle
Cephalota turcica
A distinctive tiger beetle found on saline lake shores and mudflats across Turkey and the Middle East. Its pale markings...
Twelve-Lined Whirligig Beetle
Gyrinus minutus
One of the smallest European whirligig beetles, found in clean ponds and lakes. It is often overlooked due to its diminu...
Twelve-Spotted Skimmer
Libellula pulchella
A showy dragonfly with three dark spots on each wing, totaling twelve. Mature males develop additional white spots betwe...
Variable Damselfly
Coenagrion pulchellum
A blue damselfly with highly variable black markings, making identification challenging. Males have a distinctive mercur...
Viceroy Butterfly
Limenitis archippus
Orange and black wings resembling the Monarch but with a black postmedian line across the hindwings. Once thought to be ...
Violet Dropwing
Trithemis annulata
A stunning dragonfly where mature males turn deep violet-purple with red wing veins. It is expanding its range northward...
Water Boatman
Corixa punctata
A small, oval aquatic bug with oar-like hind legs fringed with swimming hairs. Unlike most aquatic bugs, water boatmen a...
Water Measurer
Hydrometra australis
A very slender, elongate semi-aquatic bug that walks slowly on water surfaces in the Americas. Its head is exceptionally...
Water Scavenger Beetle
Hydrophilus piceus
One of the largest European water beetles, with a glossy black, boat-shaped body. Despite its name, it is largely herbiv...
Water Scorpion
Nepa cinerea
A flat aquatic bug that lurks in shallow water resembling a dead leaf. It breathes through a long tail-like siphon that ...
Water Springtail
Podura aquatica
A distinctive dark-colored springtail found on the surface of still freshwater. It is the only species in its family and...
Water Stick Insect
Ranatra linearis
Despite its common name, this is actually a true bug (Hemiptera) that resembles a stick insect and lives underwater. It ...
Water Strider
Gerris lacustris
Walks on water using hydrophobic leg hairs that trap air. Each leg has thousands of microscopic grooved hairs. Can detec...
Water Treader
Mesovelia mulsanti
A tiny, bright green semi-aquatic bug that walks on the surface of still waters among floating vegetation. It is widespr...
Water Veneer Moth
Acentria ephemerella
A unique aquatic moth whose larvae live entirely underwater in freshwater lakes. Females are often wingless and spend th...
Water-lily Reed Beetle
Donacia simplex
A metallic coppery-bronze aquatic beetle with longitudinal ridges on the elytra. Adults sit on floating leaves of pondwe...
Waterlily Borer Moth
Elophila gyralis
A small pale brown moth with wavy dark lines across its wings. Its larvae are aquatic, living underwater in cases made f...
Waterlily Leaf Beetle
Galerucella nymphaeae
A small, brown leaf beetle that feeds on the upper surfaces of waterlily pads. It creates distinctive feeding grooves ac...
Weedy Water Sedge
Leptocerus tineiformis
A slender caddisfly associated with weedy European lakes and canals. Larvae build cases from fine sand and plant fragmen...
West African Firefly
Luciola lusitanica
A small soft-bodied beetle that produces bioluminescent flashes to attract mates. Males fly and flash while females resp...
Whirligig Beetle
Gyrinus natator
A small, oval, shiny black beetle that spins in rapid circles on the water surface. Its eyes are divided in two, allowin...
White Miller Caddisfly
Nectopsyche albida
A small white caddisfly commonly found near lights along eastern North American waterways. Its delicate white wings make...
Widow Skimmer
Libellula luctuosa
A distinctive dragonfly with broad dark wing patches at the base and white bands beyond them in mature males. Females an...
Yellow-Margined Water Scavenger Beetle
Hydrochara caraboides
A large dark water scavenger beetle with yellowish margins on the pronotum. It inhabits well-vegetated ponds and is decl...