Show Notes
This week on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast, we got a little weird and had a lot of fun. Since Ben wasn’t here, we got to talk about what we wanted and this time it was aquatic insects. Calder takes the lead and talks about many different types of bugs that could and should be part of the aquarium hobby. From diving beetles to dragonfly nymphs, there are many great options for that spare five gallon tank you have lying around, just be sure to have a tight fitting lid.
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Sources mentioned in this episode:
AMAZONAS Magazine – https://www.amazonasmagazine.com/ Bug Guide – https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/15740 iNaturalist – https://www.inaturalist.org/ Benthic Macroinvertebrates Survey – https://www.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/indicators-benthic-macroinvertebrates
Species mentioned in this episode: Orders: Odonata – Dragonflies, Damselflies, etc. Coleoptera – Beetles Hetetoptera – Stink bugs, Assasin bugs, Water Striders, Giant Water Bugs, etc.
Tenodera sinensis – Chinese Mantis Anax junius – Common Green Darner Dragonfly Thermonectus marmoratus – Sunburst Diving Beetle Darner Dragonflies Skimmer Dragonflies Diving Beetle Aquarius remigis – Water striders Dytiscidae – Predaceous Diving Beetle Elytra Dytiscus marginalis – Great Diving Beetle Cybister fimbriolatus – Fringed Diving Beetle Gyrinidae – Whirligig beetles Belostomatidae – Giant Water Bugs Lethocerus americanus – Giant Water Bug Ranatra fusca – Brown Water Scorpion Hellgrammite – Dobsonfly larvae Notonectidae – Back swimmers Corixidae – Water Boatman Dolomedes – Fishing Spiders Argyroneta aquatica – Diving Bell Spider
Terminology mentioned in this episode:
Ootheca – a hardened, foam-like egg case produced by certain insects—most notably praying mantises and cockroaches—to protect their developing eggs Eclosion – biological term for when an insect hatches from an egg or emerges from its pupal case as an adult Stridulation – the act of producing a high-pitched, creaking, or chirping sound by rubbing specialized body parts together; one structure acts as a “scraper” or plectrum (a sharp ridge, lip, or set of pegs), while the other acts as a “file” or stridulitrum (a finely-ridged surface)
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*** We apologize for some of the electrical pops and noises, we are working out the bugs but unfortunately we record our episodes a few weeks in advance and will take some time to reflect in real time. All suggestions and feedback is welcome any of the ways you can get in touch with us. *** In previous episodes, Water Colors staff and listeners have asked Amy, Ben and Calder questions. This episode is a little different. This week, the team has decided to ask each other questions; one question personalized for each individual host and two questions for both hosts to answer. Cuddle up, grab a glass of beer or maybe a hot cocoa, and listen to the more personal sides of the team you have grown to know and love.
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