This bug fools a lot of people because it looks like a mosquito.
The Common Water Slider (Gerris remigis) doesn't have wings. It can't fly.
But, they walk on water and eat mosquitos so, you should make friends with them.
A website, Study of Northern Virginia Ecology, can teach you more about them than I ever could.
While researching this insect I found all kinds of bugs at the University of California.
If you ever get stuck with a bug, you can't identify, checkout their photo collection.
Wikipedia people might give you some information overload if you look at these bugs over there.
When I read what they had to say about Gerris remigis:
......"The most consistent characteristic used to separate these two families are internal genitalia differences. Since internal genitalia require specific training and tools to identify, it is almost impossible to tell a member of the Gerridae apart from a member of the Veliidae by external visual cues.".....
.....it suddenly dawned on me, I don't want to become a bug scientist.
The folks at the University of California and Northern Virginia are good enough for me !
1 comment:
Freya,
Thanks and I hope you take advantage of those bug links. They're awesome !
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