Diptera.info

Posted by Alandy7 on 15-09-2017 22:38

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

Posted by johnes81 on 16-09-2017 20:52

I think it is a Gerris sp. The overall appearance matches Gerris better. I cannot go further without a specimen.

Posted by empeejay on 17-09-2017 20:29

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.

Posted by atylotus on 20-09-2017 09:54

I agree with A. paludum. Typical long projections from the anal segment and macropterous.

Edited by atylotus on 20-09-2017 10:00

Posted by atylotus on 20-09-2017 13:39

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.

Edited by atylotus on 20-09-2017 13:40

Posted by atylotus on 20-09-2017 13:43

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

Thank you all for your suggestions, sorry not to have replied sooner, but my "Notify me of reply" did not show any