Aquarius remigis

(Say, 1832)

common water strider

Aquarius remigis is a predatory aquatic known as the common . Formerly classified as Gerris remigis, the was reclassified in 1990 when Aquarius was elevated to generic rank. It inhabits freshwater surfaces across North America, with highest in the midwestern United States. exhibit geographic variation in , with northern populations typically and southern populations showing greater plasticity in .

Water strider (Aquarius remigis) - geograph.org.uk - 5448197 by Evelyn Simak . Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.

Aquarius remigis 140810489 by Jason Swanson. Used under a CC0 license.

Common Water Striders (Aquarius remigis) Mating - Kitchener, Ontario by Ryan Hodnett. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Aquarius remigis: /əˈkwɛəriəs ˈrɛmɪdʒɪs/

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

Identification

Distinguished from other by combination of large body size (exceeding 12 mm), dark to black coloration, and geographic distribution. Formerly confused with Gerris before taxonomic revision elevated Aquarius to . Identification to species level may require examination of genitalic structures or geographic context.

Images

Habitat

Freshwater surface including streams, ponds, and other standing or flowing water bodies. Occupies the water surface film where it forages and locomotes. in higher altitude streams experience lower water surface temperatures and food abundance compared to lowland populations.

Distribution

North America, with records throughout the continent; most prevalent in the midwestern United States. Extends into Middle America. studied from Quebec (ca. 46°N), New York (ca. 43°N), New Jersey (ca. 41°N), and Kentucky demonstrate latitudinal variation in .

Seasonality

Activity period varies by latitude and strategy. Northern (Quebec) typically with reproducing the following spring. Southern populations may exhibit cycles with direct under favorable conditions. Mating activity decreases as season progresses in summer- individuals.

Diet

Predatory feeding on mosquito beneath the water surface, dead floating on the surface, and other insects that accidentally land on water.

Life Cycle

varies geographically. Northern typically : individuals reach adulthood in summer, enter , and reproduce the following spring. Southern populations may be , with some individuals reproducing directly after maturation. and food availability influence reproductive expression. laid on stems at water's edge.

Behavior

Uses middle and hind legs to row quickly across water surface. Employs legs to seize . Communicates with potential mates via ripple signals sent across water surface during breeding season. Non-reproductive individuals often territorial; reproductive individuals more mobile, with males showing higher mobility than females. Males produce high-frequency ripple signals during non-mating season agonistic encounters that increase dominance. Post-copulatory mate guarding occurs, with males carrying females on their backs, imposing locomotor costs on females.

Ecological Role

Surface-dwelling and scavenger in freshwater . Controls of mosquito and other aquatic or surface .

Human Relevance

agent for mosquito . Subject of extensive behavioral and evolutionary research due to observable surface-dwelling habits and complex mating systems.

Similar Taxa

Gerris speciesFormerly classified within same ; distinguished by taxonomic revision elevating Aquarius based on phylogenetic analysis
Other Aquarius speciesSame ; may require examination of genitalic structures or geographic range for definitive identification

More Details

Reproductive Tactic Plasticity

show clinal variation in reproductive tactic expression. Northern populations (Quebec) show canalized delayed with . Transition zone populations in New York show plastic expression of direct versus delayed reproduction based on and food abundance cues. Higher altitude populations within transition zones show greater canalization than lowland populations, likely due to shorter seasons and lower temperatures.

Mating System

Prolonged copulation occurs, with insemination happening at copulation end rather than serving as post-insemination mate guarding. Sperm transferred as coherent coiled mass, moving rapidly to spermathecal tube. Some sperm move directly to fecundation canal enabling immediate . Prolonged copulation associated with increased spermathecal tube filling, suggesting copulatory courtship or sperm loading function.

Genetic Architecture

positively associated with differences between sexes in proportions of autosomal dominance variance. Strong interactions among additive, sex-linked, and dominance genetic components indicate their relative influence differs among traits and between sexes.