Cymatia rogenhoferi has spread into Western Europe over the last 25 years from Central Asia, possibly as a result of climate warming, and was first recorded in the UK in 2005. Although the short winged form predominates in C. rogenhoferi populations (Cianferoni 2013) it appears that individuals with functional wings fly readily to new habitats as the species has been found in temporary pools and a light trap as well as established lakes, ponds and river backwaters. It is tolerant of brackish and acidic conditions. From observations made in Italy, C. rogenhoferi has one generation per year, overwinters as an adult and reproduces in May- June. Like other Cymatia species (see C. bondsdorffii and C. coleoptrata) it is a predator, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and fly larvae.

Cymatia rogenhoferi was first recorded in Bedfordshire in 2005 from a flooded gravel pit (Brooke 2009) and has been taken from one site in Essex (2010) and two in Kent (Rye Harbour 2006 and Stodmarsh 2021). It was also collected from a light trap in Toddington, Bedfordshire in September 2020. 

Refs
Brooke (2009) Water bugs recently arrived in Britain. HetNews Issue 14 
Cianferoni F. (2013) Distribution of C. rogenhoferi in the West-Palaeartic Region with the first record for the Italian mainland. North-Western Journal of Zoology 9(2): 245-249