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Notonectoidea
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Backswimmers (Notonectidae)
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Notonecta
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subgenus Paranecta (Notonecta subgenus Paranecta)
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Notonecta unifasciata
Photo#588290
Copyright © 2011
Carol Davis
Notonecta undulata? -
Notonecta unifasciata
Antelope Island, Davis County, Utah, USA
October 13, 2011
I thought I was hallucinating when I glanced up and saw this insect on my windshield. I'd never seen a backswimmer out of water (with no pond nearby).
Images of this individual:
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Contributed by
Carol Davis
on 18 October, 2011 - 10:45am
Last updated 18 October, 2011 - 5:35pm
Moved
Moved from
Notonecta undulata
.
Moved tentatively. Ordinarily, I like to get a good look at the key character(s) for a taxon. In this case, the interocular distances seem to be a good match. From what I can make out, the mesotrochanter seems angulate and not spinose.
Thanks for posting the extra photo. It's too bad the critter wasn't quite ready for its close-up!
…
Brady Richards
, 18 October, 2011 - 5:35pm
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Not Notonecta undulata
This is either
N. unifasciata]/i] or [i]N. spinosa
. I'm leaning towards the former. It would be helpful if you had a clearer shot of the middle leg -- specifically, whether the base of the leg, the trochanter, is angulate or spinose. I can't quite make out which it is from your ventral photo.
Both of these species have a similar color pattern, including the "V" marking on the pronotum. This marking is lacking in
N. undulata
. Notonectids go on fly-about quite often and will wind up in the weirdest places. They tend to land on cars, as many aquatic insects will do.
…
Brady Richards
, 18 October, 2011 - 12:07pm
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I've added a close-up
I've added a close-up of the underside and lightened it. I don't know if it will be of any help.
…
Carol Davis
, 18 October, 2011 - 12:38pm
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Thanks
I still can't make out the character. I'm leaning towards angulate and not spinose from what I can see. Did you happen to measure the size of the specimen?
…
Brady Richards
, 18 October, 2011 - 12:49pm
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Nope
I barely had time to get the five shots before it panicked and took flight.
…
Carol Davis
, 18 October, 2011 - 5:05pm
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