Gerridae

Definition

A family of true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) comprising the water striders, surface-dwelling predators that exploit surface tension to walk, run, and hunt on freshwater and marine water surfaces. Members possess hydrofuge body hairs and raptorial forelegs; over 1,700 described species occur across eight subfamilies including the freshwater Gerrinae and the marine Halobatinae.

Etymology

From genus Gerris (type genus) + -idae (family suffix)

Example

Aquarius remigis, a common North American gerrid, hunts mosquito larvae and fallen terrestrial insects at the air-water interface of ponds and slow streams.

Synonyms

• Water striders
• pond skaters
• water skippers

Related Terms

• Gerromorpha
• Heteroptera
• pleuston
• surface tension locomotion
• Halobatinae
• Veliidae
• raptorial foreleg
• hydrofuge setae

Usage Notes

The vernacular 'water striders' applies broadly to Gerridae, though specialists reserve it for larger gerrines; smaller surface-dwelling heteropterans in Veliidae are often called 'water crickets' or 'small water striders.' Marine gerrids (Halobatinae) are the only insects with open-ocean populations, a derived condition within the family.