Rhagovelia
Genus of true bugs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rhagovelia is a genus of smaller water striders in the family Veliidae. There are at least 390 described species in Rhagovelia.[1][2][3][4][5]
- Rhagovelia can be gregarious and form swarms. Morton Arboretum, Illinois
| Rhagovelia | |
|---|---|
| |
| Rhagovelia distincta | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Heteroptera |
| Family: | Veliidae |
| Genus: | Rhagovelia Mayr, 1865 |
| Diversity | |
| at least 390 species | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
It was reported in 2025 that the biophysical properties of members of this genus had been used to design feet for water strider-like robots.[6]
Evolution
Origins
The origins of the genus are among water striders of Veliidae family without propelling fans on their legs.
Evolution from water striders
Genes 'geisha' and 'mother-of-geisha'
The duplication of genes, called by researchers 'geisha' and 'mother-of-geisha', caused evolutionary creation of propelling fans on middle pair of water strider's legs which in its turn has made able for species in the genus to walk across more fast-flowing and turbulent streams.[7]
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