Notonecta undulata
In 3 days ~10%
Notonecta undulata, also known by the common name grousewinged backswimmer, are from the family Notonectidae and the insect suborder Heteroptera. They are a type of hemipteran or true bug. These aquatic insects typically spend their time at the water's surface, using their abdomen and legs to cling to the underside of the surface tension. The Grousewinged backswimmer can be found in both lotic and lentic environments; however, they typically prefer small ponds and lakes where the water is slow-moving with less current. They swim upside down looking for prey. Once they stop swimming they float back up to the surface. These insects can be distinguished from water boatman or Corixidae by their segmented beak and front legs. Water boatman have highly modified front legs whereas backswimmers do not. Backswimmers are distributed across a broad range throughout North America. However, the species Notonecta undulata has only been documented and studied in southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the western United States. N. undulata differs from other backswimmers by their antennae and size. They are approximately 10–12 mm long, and their antennae are 4 segmented. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis [Saint Paul] | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Montreal | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 3 | Toronto | 🇨🇦 Canada |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Grousewinged Backswimmer sighting in Toronto on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 1410th most-seen of the 1689 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Grousewinged Backswimmer in Toronto on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Among the best
Of the 3 cities where we can rate Grousewinged Backswimmer sightings, Toronto ranks 3rd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Minneapolis [Saint Paul] (United States, under 5%) and Montreal (Canada, under 5%).
Same order: Hemiptera
The closest relatives of the Grousewinged Backswimmer that you can see in Toronto (order Hemiptera, True Bugs, Hoppers, Aphids, and allies) are European Firebug (about 20%), Eastern Boxelder Bug (about 20%) and Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Grousewinged Backswimmer is recorded against all the insects logged in Toronto (6 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
