[ID] Water Cricket??

[Fauna]

Can any one put a name to this for me please, i'm sure its a Water Cricket of some type but have never seen one like this before. I've searched the web and there is something very similar called Velia rivulorum, but i don't think they occur in Britain...i'm none the wiser here?

[Stomatopod]

Its sure is a water cricket. Ive seen Velia caprai but not Velia saulii - I think you have to look at their genitals under a microscope to tell them appart!

I reckon youre right though. It looks like a Velia rivulorum. Probably imported on aquatic plants from Europe.

[Red Robin]

^^^^
As an 'import' are they likely to be able to establish themselves in Britain?

Any downside to this possibility?

Any upside?

[Stomatopod]

Originally Posted by Red Robin

^^^^
As an 'import' are they likely to be able to establish themselves in Britain?

Any downside to this possibility?

Any upside?

I reckon its inevitable with global warming that continental flaura and fauna will begin to establish itself in the South and work its way up uk.

As to ups and downs, your guess is as good as mine. Ive seen Velia caprai ganging up on much larger prey including pond skaters. Im not sure about the behaviour of V. rivulorum..? (there are 21 members of the genus)

However I wouldnt worry too much about invaders from Europe as they have probably been in the UK before the last ice age and probably wont effect the local ecology too much. Id be more concerned about intercontinental invaders like the American mink, Signal crayfish and Harlequin laydybird that European wildlife has not evolved to cope with....

[Matt Smith]

Velia caprai - winged female. If you are thinking it might be anything else or something "new to Britain", you need to have some specimens than can be carefully checked.

[Red Robin]

^^^^
@ Stomatopod:

Agreed. Migration and evolution of species isn't a new phenomona and if you analyse deeply enough you'll probably find precious little is what we call 'native'. If you trace back family histories, very few of the humans are truly 'native' in the UK.

Even though 'foreign' species can overrun or upset the status quo, I think it's all evolution and Nature usually pulls through in one form or another. Many people don't like change and fear the unknown though don't they.

One day we're probably gonna have to enjoy eating Humboldt Squid instead of best Cod etc.

[Stomatopod]

Originally Posted by Red Robin

^^^^
@ Stomatopod:

Agreed. Migration and evolution of species isn't a new phenomona and if you analyse deeply enough you'll probably find precious little is what we call 'native'. If you trace back family histories, very few of the humans are truly 'native' in the UK.

Even though 'foreign' species can overrun or upset the status quo, I think it's all evolution and Nature usually pulls through in one form or another. Many people don't like change and fear the unknown though don't they.

One day we're probably gonna have to enjoy eating Humboldt Squid instead of best Cod etc.

True. Its all relative. Whats different now is the pace of change and environmental destruction. Sure life will continue, but will it be as diverse as what we currently have left? Probably not.

[Red Robin]

Originally Posted by Stomatopod

True. Its all relative. Whats different now is the pace of change and environmental destruction. Sure life will continue, but will it be as diverse as what we currently have left? Probably not.

....We actually don't know but human beings like to think they know.

Besides, I'm an optimist and believe that as one door closes another one opens.

[Fauna]

Originally Posted by Matt Smith

Velia caprai - winged female. If you are thinking it might be anything else or something "new to Britain", you need to have some specimens than can be carefully checked.

Yes, i believe your right. Not knowing much about these i did not realize there was winged "form". On this information i scoured the web and found a key but its in German. There is a part in there showing the winged type V.caprai and V.saulii. Having looked at the diagrams and putting the specimen under the microscope, it lacks the characteristic bit of veination for V.caprai marked on the diagram as V.

Link to the key in pdf...the information is from page 9-11.

http://homepage.univie.ac.at/wolfgan...essel_comb.pdf

I will try to get a clearer picture of the specimen to show this lack of veination, or because i can't read German i may have it totally wrong

I forgot to put the specimen is 6-7mm

[Fauna]

This is the best i could get...

Velia caprai - winged female - Wild About Britain Pics

Looks like i misunderstood the key...Translation.

10. The central white spot usually oval-oblong and larger than the distal spot. Wing vein at the wing back available. Velia Caprai

- The central white spot usually round and smaller (or equal) than the distal spot. Wing vein on the trailing side is missing. Velia saulii

So by the looks of things it is indeed V.caprai

Cheers