Taking a bath ABOVE the water.
This Pygmy backswimmer has crawled out of the water and is now sitting (upright) on a leaf of
duckweed. Backswimmers and Lesser Water boatman sometimes want to rest on a plant above the
water. Investigators have proven that Plea needs to go out to give itself a cleaning
treatment by rubbing a secretion from the thorax over its body. This secretion contains
hydrogen peroxide and has antiseptic properties. It prevents bacteria growth on the hairs on
the belly side, which are of vital importance in holding the animals breathing airs supply.