waterboatmen and T. cristatus larvea in Hampshire England.

[tritus]

No, no real connection between the two subjects, only I wasn't sure in which topic to post them...

Subject 1: Anyone ever had problems with Greater Waterboatman (Notonecta spp) preying on caudates (juv's or adults) ?

Subject 2: I thought T.cristatus keep to alkaline ponds and avoid acidic ones, until yesterday, when I came acros some of their larvae in a Hampshire pond which had clear acid loving flora and fauna (sandy location). Anyone knows things to be different ?

 

[carpy]

Subject 1 - yes, i have frequently had water boatmen take young smooth, and palmate newts out of breeding ponds

subject 2 - i personally do not currently have any gc newts, however i know of a population in aylesbury, and there the p.h is slightly acidic.

 

[tritus]

thanks mark

thank you Mark
D