[1] Adults normally range in size from 5 to 15 mm long, and are found in ponds, lakes and sometimes even swimming pools.

They are green with long hind legs which they use to swim on top of water.

These powerful legs are covered in tiny hairs which helps them float on the surface of the water.

[2] They are similar in appearance to Notonecta glauca, the back swimmer, but lesser waterboatmen are herbivores and swim on their fronts.

[3] They are not related to Notonecta glauca nor to the European Micronecta scholtzi, also known as the "lesser water boatman".