Aquarius remigis

Aquarius remigis, known as the common water strider, is a species of aquatic bug.[3][4] It was formerly known as Gerris remigis, but the subgenus Aquarius was elevated to generic rank in 1990 on the basis of phylogenetic analysis.[5][6] Aquarius remigis is found throughout North America, but is most prevalent in the mid-west of the United States.[7]

Aquarius remigis
Adult
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Hemiptera
Suborder:
Heteroptera
Infraorder:
Gerromorpha
Superfamily:
Gerroidea
Family:
Gerridae
Subfamily:
Gerrinae
Genus:
Aquarius
Species:
A. remigis
Binomial name
Aquarius remigis
(Say, 1832)[1]
Synonyms

Gerris remigis Say, 1832[2]

Description

Aquarius remigis grows slightly longer than .5 inches, and is dark brown to black in colour. It has a sharp rostrum that it uses to pierce the body of its prey and suck out the insides.[8]

Behaviour

They normally continue to move to avoid being eaten by predators. It has good vision, and can row quickly over the surface of the water. It uses its front legs to seize its prey.[8]

During breeding season, this species can communicate with potential mates by sending ripples over on the surface of the water.[8]

Adult females normally lay their eggs on plant stems at the water's edge.[8]

Diet

This predatory species feeds on mosquito larvae living under the surface, and dead insects on the surface, and other insects that accidentally land on the water.[8]

References
  1. Andersen, Nils Møller (1990). "Phylogeny and taxonomy of water striders, genus Aquarius Schellenberg (Insecta, Hemiptera, Gerridae), with a new species from Australia". Steenstrupia. 16 (4): 37–81. Abstract
  2. Say, Thomas (1859) [1832]. "Descriptions of new species of Heteropterous Hemiptera of North America". In Le Conte, John L. (ed.). The Complete Writings of Thomas Say on the Entomology of North America. 1. New York: Bailliere Brothers. p. 362.
  3. "Water Strider Gerris remigis - Aquarius remigis". BugGuide.Net. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
  4. Wilcox, R. Stimson (1979-12-14). "Sex Discrimination in Gerris remigis: Role of a Surface Wave Signal". Science. Sciencemag.org. 206 (4424): 1325–7. doi:10.1126/science.206.4424.1325. PMID 17799643. S2CID 24186154. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
  5. Kaitala, Arja; Dingle, Hugh (1993). "Wing dimorphism, territoriality and mating frequency of the waterstrider Aquarius remigis (Say)" (PDF). Annales Zoologici Fennici. 30 (2): 163–168. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 January 2014.
  6. Gallant, Sharon L.; Fairbairn, Daphne J. (1996). "A New Species of Aquarius from the Southeastern United States, with Electrophoretic Analysis of the Clade Containing Gerris, Limnoporus, and Aquarius (Hemiptera: Gerridae)". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 89 (5): 637–644. doi:10.1093/aesa/89.5.637. Abstract
  7. Maps "Aquarius remigis" at the Encyclopedia of Life
  8. "Common Water Strider, Gerris remigis". Island Creek Elementary School. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2011.

Further reading
  • Fairbairn, D. J. 1985. A test of the hypothesis of compensatory upstream dispersal using a stream-dwelling waterstrider, Gerris remigis Say. Oecologia 66:147-153.
  • Fairbairn, D. J. 1985. Comparative ecology of Gerris remigis (Hemiptera, Heteroptera) in two habitats: a paradox of habitat choice. Canadian Journal of Zoology 63:2594-2603.
  • Fairbairn, D. J. 1986. Does alary dimorphism imply dispersal dimorphism in the waterstrider, Gerris remigis? Ecological Entomology 11:355-368.
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