Scapholeberis mucronata (images added)

Litonotus · Post by **Litonotus** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 9:51 pm

Scapholeberis mucronata from a park pond.

way to thick specimen for a PA objective...

Litonotus · Post by **Litonotus** » Sun Aug 25, 2013 11:21 am

what's that inside? somekind of an egg?

Clado · Post by **Clado** » Sun Aug 25, 2013 1:20 pm

Hello Litonotus,

A very nice set of pictures.
Thank you
The dark "egg" is an ephippium (like a saddle of a horse) wifh in it a dormant embryo. It is the result of sexual reproduction. In this ephippium the embryo can stay dormant for a long time, even years. After environmental conditions get better the embryo will develop and molt.

Regards

Clado

Litonotus · Post by **Litonotus** » Sun Aug 25, 2013 9:47 pm

thank you, Clado (: I supposed that but I wanted to confirm it (:

RogelioMoreno · Post by **RogelioMoreno** » Mon Aug 26, 2013 4:36 am

Interesting info!

Rogelio

Litonotus · Post by **Litonotus** » Tue Aug 27, 2013 11:22 am

another image from that sample