macropterous

Members of this family are small, often macropterous, with a distinct wing-venation.

As yet no macropterous P. otagoense have been recorded.

It is 5 mm long and occurs in both the macropterous and brachypterous condition.

The macropterous forms are potentially migrants and are responsible for colonizing new fields.

However, a macropterous form, f. diluta (described by Charpentier 1825) also exists.

It has also been suggested that a very localised hostile environment may also produce a higher level of macropterous forms.

The macropterous individuals have an overall lower fecundity, or fertility, than the long-winged individuals.

Overwintering gerrids usually are macropterous, or with wings, so they can fly back to their aquatic habitat after winter.

The macropterous females were shorter in length than the long-winged morphs and therefore do not carry as many eggs.

Sometimes brachypterous insects can exist with fully developed wings (macropterous) individuals, or wing development may depend on the temperature.

The final instar may be the most important in determining whether the insect develops as a brachypterous form or a macropterous form.

Gerrids will produce winged forms for dispersal purposes and macropterous individuals are maintained due to their ability to survive in changing conditions.

Brachypterous females lay 300 to 350 eggs, while macropterous females lay fewer eggs.

Most wing-dimorphic tettigoniids have a brachypterous (short-winged) form and a macropterous (long-winged) form.

Wing polymorphism is common in Gerridae despite most univoltine populations being completely apterous (wingless) or macropterous (with wings).

Most strikingly, there are micropterous (small-winged) and macropterous (large-winged) forms, but there is also variation in colouration.

The obvious benefits of having macropterous wings is to increase survivability by escaping adverse local conditions, colonizing new areas and a more effective way to escape predators.

The populations found farther north, at the range borders, have a higher percentage of extra long-winged (macropterous) individuals in comparison to populations in range core.

Even in many macropterous species the female is much heavier than the male, has much shorter wings, and rarely takes flight if she is capable of it at all.

The species is macropterous, with fore wings that are clear with a vary slight darkening away from hyaline and hind-wings that are fully darkened.

Apterous populations of Gerridae would be restricted to stable aquatic habitats that experience little change in environment, while macropterous populations can inhabit more changing, variable water supplies.

The macropterous form is a dispersal phase, and it provides the advantage of reaching new, more favourable habitats, within which there is a lower density of Roesel's bush-crickets residing.

The dispersal and flight capability of macropterous individuals provides them with an increased chance of finding a new habitat and colonising a new territory, at the cost of reproductive ability.

It is clear that macropterous individuals have a selective advantage due to their capability for sustained flight, allowing them to form new colonies and benefit from habitats that have opened up farther north.

It has been suggested that production of macropterous forms may be due to juvenile hormone (JH) degradation in the final instar, which leads to a shorter period of JH presence within the nymph.