Ecological and Taxonomic Study of the Broad-Shouldered Water Striders Velia rhadamantha Cyrenaica in Ain Al-Hufrah, Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar, Libya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37375/bsj.v7i19.3302Keywords:
Aquatic Hemiptera, Water Striders, Taxonomic, physicochemical parametersAbstract
This stud was carried out in Ain Al-Hufrah, situated in the Shahat region of Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar, northeastern Libya, conducted from January to August 2023–2024 into the Water Striders Velia rhadamantha cyrenaica Tamanini, 1947 (Hemiptera: Veliidae). The insects were collected using aquatic net traps. Water samples underwent comprehensive analysis to evaluate physicochemical parameters in conjunction with specimen collection. The results indicate that effect of temperature on the presence of the insect. The optimal air temperature for emergence was approximately 25 °C, while the most favourable water temperature was at noted 23.1 °C. Specimens were exclusively recorded during the warmer months, with no sightings during the colder months characterised by average air temperatures around 13 °C.The species exhibited a preference for neutral pH conditions (pH 7). Additional environmental variables, including electrical conductivity, turbidity, total dissolved solids, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, sulfate, nitrate, and heavy metals (iron, lead, cadmium, zinc, and copper), remained within acceptable tolerance thresholds for this insect.
The study’s taxonomic component thoroughly describes the species, including detailed morphological characterisation and illustrative photographs of all external body parts
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