Notonecta glauca

Notonecta glauca
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Family: Notonectidae
Genus: Notonecta
Species:
N. glauca
Binomial name
Notonecta glauca

Notonecta glauca, also known as the greater water-boatman or common backswimmer, is a species of aquatic insect in the family Notonectidae. This species is found in large parts of Europe, North Africa, and east through Asia to Siberia and China.[1] In much of its range it is the most common backswimmer species.[2] It is also the most widespread and abundant of the four British water-boatmen.[3] Notonecta glauca are Hemiptera (true bug) predators,[2] that are approximately 13–16 mm in length.[4] Females have a larger body size compared to males.[2] These water insects swim and rest on their back (hence their common name "backswimmer" or "water boatman") and are found under the water surface.[5] Notonecta glauca supports itself under the water surface by using their front legs and mid legs and the back end of its abdomen and rest them on the water surface;[6] They are able to stay under the water surface by water tension, also known as the air-water interface (surface tension).[7] They use the hind legs as oars; these legs are fringed with hair and, when at rest, are extended laterally like a pair of sculls in a boat.[8] Notonecta glauca will either wait for its prey to pass by or will swim and actively hunt its prey. When the weather is warm, usually in the late summer and autumn, they will fly between ponds.[9][10] Notonecta glauca reproduce in the spring.[2]

  1. ^ Berchi, G.M. (2013). "Checklist and distribution of the family Notonectidae in Romania, with the first record of Notonecta maculata Fabricius, 1794 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha)". Zootaxa. 3682 (1): 121–132. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3682.1.5. PMID 25243278. S2CID 3095939.
  2. ^ a b c d Svensson, B.G; Tailmark, B; Petersson, E (2000). "Habitat Heterogeneity, coexistence and habitat utilization in five backswimmer species (Notonecta spa,; Hemiptera, Notonectidae)". Aquatic Insects. 22 (2): 81–98. doi:10.1076/0165-0424(200004)22:2;1-p;ft081. S2CID 84412947.
  3. ^ Southwood, Richard; Dennis Leston (1959). Land & Water Bugs of the British Isles. London & New York: Frederick Warne & Co. LTD.
  4. ^ Balmert, A; Bohn, H.F; Ditsche-Kuru, P; Barhlott, W (2011). "Dry under water: Comparative morphology and functional aspects of air-retaining insect surfaces". Journal of Morphology. 272 (4): 442–451. doi:10.1002/jmor.10921. PMID 21290417. S2CID 6348101.
  5. ^ Immonen, E.V; Ignatova, I; Gislen, A; Warrant, E; Vahasorinki, M; Weckstöm, M; Frolov, R (2014). "Large variations among photoreceptors as the basis of visual flexibility on the common backswimmer". Proceedings of the Royal Society. 281 (1795): 20141177. doi:10.1098/rspb.2014.1177. PMC 4213611. PMID 25274359.
  6. ^ Wichard, W; Arens, W; Eisenbeis, G (2002). Biological Atlas of Aquatic Insects. Stenstrup, Denmark: Apollo Books.
  7. ^ Wachmann, E; Melber, A; Deckert, J (2006). Wanzen. Band 1: Dipsocoromorpha, Nepomorpha, Gerromorpha, Leptopodomorpha. Die Tierwelt Deutschlands.: Keltern: Goecke & Evers. p. 264 p.
  8. ^  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Water-boatman". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 367.
  9. ^ Walton, G.A (1935). "Field experiments on the flight of Notonecta maculata Fabr. (Hemipt.)". Trans. Soc. Br. Ent. 2: 137–144.
  10. ^ Schwind, R (1983). "A polarization-sensitive response of the flying water bug Notonecta glauca to Uv light". J. Comp. Physiol. 150: 87–91. doi:10.1007/bf00605291. S2CID 43907662.