What is a "Water Bug"?

The term 'water bug' is used as shorthand for aquatic macro-invertebrates. 'Aquatic' meaning they live in the water, 'macro' meaning they can be seen with an unaided eye (no microscope needed) and 'invertebrate' meaning they do not have a back bone (vertebrate).

Aquatic macro-invertebrates spend all or part of their life in waterways like streams, rivers, ponds, estuaries, wetlands and irrigation drains. Water bugs include insects, crustaceans, molluscs and worms including stoneflies, mayflies, shrimps, flatworms, blood worms, leeches and beetles.

Why search for water bugs?

Some water bugs are more sensitive to pollution and environmental change than others. The presence or absence of particular bugs in a waterway tells us a lot about the health of the catchment. When water becomes polluted or disturbed, sensitive water bugs like stoneflies, mayflies and water mites may die. Flatworms, leeches and bloodworms are more tolerant to pollution and changes in habitat and will often survive. So water bugs are a little like a canary in a coalmine, they tell us about problems long before me might pick them up in other ways.

Another reason to search for water bugs is that its lots of fun!

If you want to do the bug survey at any time as a fun and educational activity, all of the information is available on the bug survey website. The activity is suitable for primary age students, cubs and scouts, community environmental groups, secondary schools, or anyone interested in better understanding their local environment.

All of the information on how to catch and identify water bugs is located on the website www.bugsurvey.nsw.gov.au. Alternatively, telephone 02 9895 7402 or e-mail bug.survey@dnr.nsw.gov.au