Limnoporus rufoscutellatus is a European migrant species that is seen occasionally around the UK. In Ireland there is a resident population across a number of habitats including a mesotrophic lake with Bankside vegetation, small pool on a cutover bog and a peaty pool in upland heath (Nelson, 1995). Those records expanded in 2007 and 2014 to prove that point. There is also what could be the start of a small resident population in South-West Scotland.

It is found in a wide range of standing and slow waters with ditch bank vegetation especially in Moorland areas (Strauss & Niedringhaus, 2014).

The map is based on records from NBN Gateway, with yellow dots showing pre 1990 records, reds dots 1990 – 2015 records and red on yellow dots overlapping records. This is a migrant species from Europe that has developed colonies in Northern Ireland and possibly a small colony in Scotland. The other records are occasional sightings.

It is a large Gerridae at 13.2mm to 18.5mm with a rufous pronotum. The first segment of the Antennae is also shorter than the next two added together.