''Aquarius najas'', also known as the river skater, is a European
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
water strider
The Gerridae are a family of insects in the order Hemiptera, commonly known as water striders, water skeeters, water scooters, water bugs, pond skaters, water skippers, or water skimmers. Consistent with the classification of the Gerridae as tr ...
.
It was formerly known as ''Gerris najas'', but the subgenus ''Aquarius'' was elevated to generic rank in 1990 on the basis of phylogenetic analysis.
Habitat
This species generally require moving waters, living in places like the stony margins of rivers.
[Brinkhurst, R. O. (1966) "Population dynamics of the large pond-skater ''Gerris najas'' Degeer (Hemiptera-Heteroptera)." The Journal of Animal Ecology Vol. 35, No. 1 : 13-25]
Abstract
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Appearance
''Aquarius najas'' is among the largest species of water striders, as typical of members of the genus ''Aquarius
Aquarius may refer to:
Astrology
* Aquarius (astrology), an astrological sign
* Age of Aquarius, a time period in the cycle of astrological ages
Astronomy
* Aquarius (constellation)
* Aquarius in Chinese astronomy
Arts and entertainme ...
'' (including another European species, the on average marginally smaller '' A. paludum''). Adult females of ''A. najas'' average long and males about 30% smaller. In northern Europe it is wingless, but in central and southern Europe it often has wings.[
]
Behaviour
''Aquarius najas'' spend the winter as adults. In the spring, they form pairs, and before mating, row about together on the surface during the daytime. At night, they separate, and the females lay their eggs beneath the water in closely packed patches. Normally the eggs are laid on the surface of flat stones.
References
External links
Image
Female territoriality in the waterstriders ''Gerris najas'' and ''G. cinereus''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5552541
Hemiptera of Europe
Hemiptera of North America
Gerrini
Insects described in 1773
Taxa named by Charles De Geer