I investigated the effect of environmental factors (temperature and food availability) on the development and growth of semiaquatic bug Microvelia reticulata Burmeister, 1835. I focused on the developmental rate isomorphy. In a cross-designed experiment, M. reticulata was individually kept over whole juvenile period (eggs to reaching maturity) and subjected to treatments of three temperature (17, 21, 25 °C) and two food availability (full - daily feeding and reduced - 2 days interval) and their interaction. Development and growth was strongly influenced by temperature. Longest postembryonic development measured in individuals kept in the lowest temperature (54 days) contrasted to those kept in the highest temperature (16 days). Mortality was also significantly influenced by temperature; highest mortality rate was found in the 17 °C treatment. Effect of food availability was significant only in low temperature, resulting in the better survival of individuals on the high food level. In other temperature treatments, I found no effect of food on survival rate of M. reticulata. However, the food level influenced development significantly. In the 21 °C and 25 °C treatment, individuals on a full food developed faster than individuals on a reduced food. In 17 °C the food availability had no effect on time required to reach maturity. The best fitness (expressed as combination of low mortality rate and short development) was observed in 21 °C, both other temperature treatment were found stressing. Food availability had stronger effect on female individuals compared to males. In conclusion, I found no evidence of developmental rate isomorphy in M. reticulata. The research was supported by project of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic GAČR P505/10/0096.

Wing polymorphism of semiaquatic bugs is affected by environmental factors as temperature, photoperiod, population density or permanency of habitat. The heritability has its own specific part, too. A lot of field studies suggest that crucial effect on wing polymorphism has temperature, but laboratory experiments often do not confirm this hypothesis. The main aim of this thesis was to describe the effect of environmental factors (photoperiod, temperature and permanency of habitat) on wing polymorphism of Microvelia reticulata, additionally of Gerris lacustris. The partial tasks included description of effect of mentioned abiotic factors on mortality and rate of development. The individuals of both species were kept at combinations of two levels of temperature, photoperiod and permanency of habitat (overall at eight treatments) from first larval instar to adult. All adults of Microvelia reticulata emerged as apterous, so there was no response of wing polymorphism to tested environmental factors. The main influence of heritability is presumable. Only ten individuals of G. lacustris developed into the adult stage, so it was impossible to describe the influence of abiotic factors on wing polymorphism, mortality and lenght of development in this species. Mortality of individuals of M. reticulata was significantly influenced by the type of substrate. Only 3.5% of individuals survived when reared on wet filter paper, while 80.5% on the water surface. Both other factors (temperature, photoperiod) had no effect on total mortality. There was no difference between mortality of males and females, so it is impossible to note sexual dependent mortality. The lenght of development did not differ between sexes either. Lenght of development was significantly affected by temperature, as low temperature reduces development of M. reticulata. The fastest development showed nymphs of second instar and slowest development nymphs of fifth instar at all treatments. Since the effect of abiotic factors on wing polymorphism was not found in M. reticulata, it would be sufficient to study the effect of heritability on development of wings in this species in the future.