Stenus flavicornis

Erichson, 1840

water skater

Stenus flavicornis is a of rove beetle in the Steninae, commonly referred to as a water skater. It was described by Erichson in 1840 and is native to North America. Members of the Stenus are known for their ability to glide on water surfaces using specialized gland secretions that reduce surface tension. Some species in this genus are also notable for their unique prey-capture mechanism involving eversible mouthparts.

Stenus flavicornis by (c) Keith Wauthy, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Keith Wauthy. Used under a CC-BY license.

Stenus flavicornis by (c) Even Dankowicz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Even Dankowicz. Used under a CC-BY license.

Stenus flavicornis by KadenLikesMilk. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Stenus flavicornis: /ˈstɛ.nus flæˈvɪ.kɔr.nɪs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

The specific epithet flavicornis (yellow-horned) suggests yellowish , which may serve as a distinguishing feature from similar Stenus . Definitive identification requires examination of genitalia and other microscopic characters typical of Steninae .

Images

Distribution

Recorded from Canada (British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan) and the United States (Alabama, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming).

Similar Taxa

Stenus liupanshanusBoth belong to Stenus and share the Steninae characteristics, though S. liupanshanus inhabits leaf litter and reportedly lacks water-gliding ability, unlike some other Stenus .
Stenus biwenxuaniBoth are Stenus ; S. biwenxuani was found on shore and is considered a water glider, potentially sharing preferences with S. flavicornis.
Dianous speciesDianous and Stenus are both in Steninae with water-gliding representatives, though Dianous are reportedly more specialized for this than many Stenus species.

More Details

Taxonomic Status Note

Catalogue of Life lists Stenus flavicornis as a synonym of Stenus (Hypostenus) flavicornis Erichson, 1840. GBIF and NCBI treat it as an accepted . This taxonomic ambiguity reflects ongoing revisions within the large and complex Stenus.