Limnoporus

Stål, 1868

pondskaters

Species Guides

Limnoporus is a Holarctic of water striders ( Gerridae) comprising six extant and one extinct species known from fossils. Species occur across northern North America and Eurasia, with notable hybridization between sympatric species in western Canada. The genus exhibits variation in body size, wing , and preferences that have been studied in phylogenetic and evolutionary contexts.

Limnoporus notabilis by (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Limnoporus canaliculatus by (c) Cole Shoemaker, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Cole Shoemaker. Used under a CC-BY license.

Limnoporus canaliculatus by (c) Tyler Bishop, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tyler Bishop. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Limnoporus: /ˌlɪmnəˈpoʊrəs/

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

Identification

within Limnoporus are distinguished primarily by male genitalic structures and body size. Males of L. notabilis are distinctly larger than those of L. dissortis with practically no overlap in size, though females of these two species can be difficult to separate, especially in hybrid zones. L. rufoscutellatus shows geographic variation across its Palearctic and northwestern Nearctic range but cannot be separated morphologically from specimens described as Gerris nearcticus (now synonymized). L. genitalis, elevated from subspecific status, is diagnosable and restricted to Hokkaido, the Kurile Islands, and Sakhalin. The smaller-bodied species L. canaliculatus (eastern Nearctic) and L. esakii (east Asian) are more readily distinguished from each other than are the larger four species.

Images

Habitat

Freshwater aquatic including lakes, ponds, and slow-moving waters across the Holarctic region. Specific habitat preferences vary among and have been inferred to show evolutionary shifts based on phylogenetic analysis.

Distribution

Holarctic: northern North America (including Alaska, Yukon Territory, western Canada, and Vermont) and Eurasia (Europe, former Asian USSR, Hokkaido, Kurile Islands, Sakhalin). Specific distribution records include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the United States.

Host Associations

Tiphodytes gerriphagus - Scelionid that develops within of L. dissortis; eggs serve as for complete preimaginal development including two larval instars and pupal period

Behavior

Males of L. dissortis exhibit more aggressive mating than L. notabilis males, which may facilitate interspecific copulation and contribute to asymmetric . This behavioral difference appears to influence patterns of between hybridizing .

Similar Taxa

AquariusRelated used as outgroup in phylogenetic analyses of Limnoporus; both are Holarctic water striders in Gerridae but distinguished by structural characteristics of
GerrisRelated used as outgroup in phylogenetic analyses; Limnoporus historically classified within Gerris but now recognized as distinct based on structural characteristics and phylogenetic relationships