Your pond is finally complete. You stand back and look proudly at your new wildlife pond, but then realise that there is no wildlife!. Relax, now you just need to wait. The first arrivals will likely be some aquatic insects. Here are 20 native British aquatic insects, some facts about them, and how long you might have to wait for them to show up at your pond. 

1. Water boatman - They have a distinctive rowing motion with their oar-like legs and can use a straw-like proboscis to feed on algae and small invertebrates. (can arrive within a few weeks )

2. Pond skater - They are commonly found skating across the surface of ponds and canals, using the surface tension of the water to support their weight. (can arrive within a few weeks)

3. Water scorpion - They are named for their long, thin, and sharp tail, which they use to defend themselves from predators and catch prey. Don't worry, they are not poisonous! (can arrive within a few weeks)

4. Common water beetle - They have powerful swimming legs and can hold their breath for long periods of time. They feed on other insects, tadpoles, and small fish. (can arrive within a few weeks)

5. Whirligig beetle - They have two pairs of compound eyes, one set for above water and one set for below. They can swim upside down on the surface of the water. (can arrive within a few weeks)

6. Caddisfly - Their larvae create intricate cases made of sticks, stones, and other materials to protect themselves from predators. Adults feed on nectar and pollen. (can arrive within a few weeks)

7. Stonefly - They are sensitive to pollution and are often used as bioindicators of stream health. Their larvae are important food sources for fish and other aquatic animals. (can take a few months to arrive)

8. Mayfly - They have a short life span of only a few hours to a few days as adults. Their larvae are important food sources for fish and other aquatic animals. (can take a few months to arrive)

9. Damselfly - They are often confused with dragonflies but have slimmer bodies and hold their wings closer to their bodies when at rest. (can take a few months to arrive)

10. Dragonfly - They are known for their acrobatic flying abilities and can catch prey in mid-air. Their larvae are important predators in aquatic ecosystems. (can take a few months to arrive)

11. Giant water bug - They are also known as toe-biters and have a painful bite. They are large predators that feed on fish, tadpoles, and other insects. (can take a few months to arrive)

12. Water strider - They have long, thin legs that allow them to walk on the surface of the water without breaking the surface tension. (can take a few months to arrive)

13. Black fly - They are notorious for their biting habits and can be a nuisance to humans and animals. Their larvae play an important role in stream ecology. (can take a few months to arrive)

14. Mosquito - They are vectors for diseases such as West Nile virus, Zika virus, and malaria. Their larvae live in water and feed on organic matter. (can take a few months to arrive)

15. Marsh fly - They are important predators of other insects and are often used in biological control of pest species. (can take a few months to arrive)

16. Backswimmer - They swim upside down and are voracious predators of other aquatic insects and small fish. (can take a few months to arrive)

17. Water flea - They are microscopic crustaceans that are important food sources for fish and other aquatic animals. (can take a few months to arrive)

18. Water mite - They are tiny arachnids that can be predators or parasites of other aquatic animals. (can take a few months to arrive)

19. Water snipe fly - They are important predators of mosquito larvae and are often used in biological control of mosquito populations. (can take a few months to arrive)

20. Water penny beetle - They have a unique, flattened, oval shape and are often found clinging to rocks in fast-moving water. Their larvae are important decomposers in aquatic ecosystems. (can take a few months to arrive)

IMAGE -  Waterstrider - Webrunner / Wikipedia