The Chequered corixa

This is a smart bug and when alive has a chequered pattern on its back as the dark lines are broaden in patches. It is widely distributed in Northants as it is across the UK but rarely abundant. It is found in Alkaline ponds and lakes that can be mildly saline. They prefer deeper open water especially with rafts of weed that they use for cover from fish predation, although can be found occasionally in slow flowing water. Adults overwinter and oviposit during April, egg and larval development taking about two to two and a half months; there is perhaps a second generation but the evidence for this is conflicting and larvae have been found overwintering in bottom mud. (S&L, 1959)

Distribution:

Found in 44 sites and 19 10km squares this is a common bug across Northants. Sites include Abington Meadows NR, Barnes Meadow NR, Barnwell Country Park, Becks Meadow NR, Bugbroke Meadows NR, Ditchford Lakes and Meadows NR, Hansons (Earls Barton East), Hollowell Reservoir, Holywell fish ponds, Horseshoe Way Lake, Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows NR, Old Sulehay NR, Orton Brick Pits, Pitsford Reservoir NR, Ravensthorpe, River Tove, Rushden, Sandy Lane Drainage Lake, Skew Bridge Lake, Southfield Farm Marsh NR, Stanground Lode, Stanwick Lakes, Stortons Pit NR, Summer Leys NR, Titchmarsh NR, Wilsons Pit NR, Woodston ponds, Yardley Chase and Yarwell Pond.

Habitat:

It is found in Alkaline ponds and lakes that can be mildly saline. They prefer deeper open water especially with rafts of weed that they use for cover from fish predation, although can be found occasionally in slow flowing water.

Identification:

C. panzeri is 10.5 – 11.0 cm in length, slightly smaller than the other common Corixa species ( C.punctata and C.dentipes) but larger than the less common C. affinis (which is mainly coastal and not more than 9.0cm in length). In C. panzeri the claw of the middle leg is generally as long or longer than the tarsus and there are up to 14 pale lines on the pronotum while in both C. punctata and C. dentipes the claw is shorter than the tarsus and there are 15 or more pale lines on the pronotum. (A.A.Cook, British Bugs)