|
''Micronecta scholtzi'', also known as the lesser water boatman, is a species of water boatman in the family Corixidae in the order Hemiptera.〔(Tree of Life Web Project ). 2005〕 They are some 2 mm long and are common in freshwater ponds and lakes across Europe, preferring stagnant to moving water. It is one of some 45 species of Hemiptera used to assess and monitor the health of freshwater bodies. The genus ''Micronecta'' is represented by five species, of which four are to be found only in permanent fresh water lakes. *''Micronecta scholtzi'' (Fieber, 1860) *''M. minutissima'' (Linnaeus, 1758) *''M. griseola'' Géza Horváth 1899 *''M. poweri'' (Douglas & Scott 1869) ''M. scholtzi'' is easily differentiated from other species in this genus by the twisted left paramere of the male genitalia, (see traumatic insemination) the short pronotum and a distinctive dark pattern on the head. Little is known of its habits and habitat, but it is thought to flourish in the shallows of ponds or lake shores. A team of biologists and sound engineers from France and Scotland have recorded ''M. scholtzi'' producing sound up to 99.2 decibels, a volume comparable to a passing freight train classified by Guinness World Records as the loudest penis.〔(Loudest penis ): ''The loudest penis is that of a tiny European species of aquatic freshwater insect. Micronecta scholtzi is a very small water boatman, just 2 mm long, but when it rubs its penis against its abdomen the chirping noise created can be up to 99.2 decibels.''〕 The noise was so unexpectedly loud that the engineers checked the calibration of their instruments. The male of this species produces its underwater courtship song by stridulating a ridge on its penis across corrugations on its abdomen, the area involved measuring only 50 micrometres across, or about the thickness of a human hair. Almost all volume is lost when sound moves from water to air, but even so remains audible to humans walking along the pond shore. For its size this species is considered the loudest of all animals.〔 Despite knowing the mechanism of its sound production, researchers are still mystified by the volume produced and feel that once the process is understood, it could open up a useful avenue in ultrasonics. Not many insects are known to generate sound with reproductive organs, but there is another, the pyralid moth, ''Syntonarcha iriastis'', which emits ultrasonic squeaks.〔Davies, Ella. (2011-06-30) ('Singing penis' sets noise record for water insect ). BBC. Retrieved on 2011-07-08.〕 ==References== 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Micronecta scholtzi」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|