noun
- A small aquatic insect that swims on its back using its hind legs as oars, found in freshwater ponds and lakes.
Usage: Also called a back swimmer or water boatman (though water boatman may refer to a related insect).; Common in biology and entomology contexts.
Examples
- The backswimmer glided across the pond surface, propelled by its powerful hind legs.
- In biology class, we observed a backswimmer under the microscope and noted its distinctive swimming posture.
- Backswimmers are predatory insects that hunt small aquatic organisms.
- The backswimmer's streamlined body is perfectly adapted for life in freshwater environments.
- Children collecting pond specimens often find backswimmers among the aquatic plants.