ミズスマシ

noun

whirligig beetle

Refers to insects of the family Gyrinidae, especially the Japanese whirligig beetle (Gyrinus japonicus). Known for swimming rapidly in circles on the water surface.

• 池いけでミズスマシがくるくる回まわっていた。

  A whirligig beetle was spinning around on the pond.

noun

pond skater; water strider

Sometimes used loosely for pond skaters/water striders (アメンボ), but this is not the primary meaning. The standard term for pond skater is アメンボ.

See also: アメンボ (あめんぼ)

• 地ち域いきによっては、アメンボのことをミズスマシと呼よぶこともある。

  In some regions, pond skaters are also called ミズスマシ.