Rhagovelia obesa
Uhler, 1871
riffle bug
Rhagovelia obesa is a small aquatic true in the Veliidae, commonly known as a riffle bug or smaller water strider. It inhabits flowing water environments where it uses a unique swimming plume to move underwater. The has an unusual among aquatic Hemiptera, with four nymphal instars rather than five and as the stage. It has been successfully reared in laboratory conditions from first instar to .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Rhagovelia obesa: //ræɡoʊˈviːliə oʊˈbiːsə//
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Images
Habitat
Riffles in lotic (flowing water) environments
Distribution
North America; specifically recorded from Southern Ontario and Vermont
Life Cycle
Four nymphal instars (unusual for the group, which typically has five); are the stage; site of egg laying has not been located
Behavior
Uses a unique swimming plume for underwater locomotion; characterized by beating this plume to swim
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Western Lubber Grasshopper
- Species Records and Accounts
- Wyoming Distribution Atlas
- Grasshopper Collections and Survey
- Meloidae Holdings | Entomology Research Museum
- Clearwinged Grasshopper
- Life history and biology of the riffle bug Rhagovelia obesa Uhler (Heteroptera: Veliidae) in Southern Ontario