Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Pond Skater / Water Strider
Posted by
Alandy7 on 15-09-2017 22:38
#1
I am finding it very difficult to even start searching for info on this insect.
A friend suggested "Limnoporus rufoscutellatus" but was not really confident.
Can anyone help please.
photo taken in Shropshire, UK September.
Edited by
Alandy7 on 15-09-2017 22:42
#2
looks like Gerris to me. maybe Gerris argentatus
do you have a specimen?
Posted by
Alandy7 on 16-09-2017 09:15
#3
No specimen unfortunately.
#4
I think it is a Gerris sp. The overall appearance matches Gerris better. I cannot go further without a specimen.
#5
I would say
Aquarius paludum is more likely, based on the relative proportions of the antennal segments and the pale lateral stripe on the pronotum.
#6
I agree with A. paludum. Typical long projections from the anal segment and macropterous.
#7
Huxley (2003) gives a distribution for this species in SE-England with records from Cambridgeshire, Essex, Bedfordshire, Herfortshire, Middlesex, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East- and West Sussex, North Hampshire, Surrey and West Kent. Although no records are shown for Shropshire, I don't think this species is new for this county. In The Netherlands A. paludum was very scarce 1-2 decades ago, but nowadays it is one of the commonest striders. This may also be the case in the UK. This map (
https://species.n...0000527504) shows records from that area.
#8
A free distributionmap for the Netherlands is freely available on RG:
https://www.resea...ationTitle and on request I can send you a Dutch key for the Dutch species of Aquatic Heteroptera.
Posted by
Alandy7 on 25-09-2017 15:23
#9
Thank you all for your suggestions, sorry not to have replied sooner, but my "Notify me of reply" did not show any