Gerromorpha
Guides
Hebridae
Velvet Water Bugs
Hebridae, known as velvet water bugs, is a small family of semiaquatic Heteroptera within the infraorder Gerromorpha. The family comprises approximately 220 species in 9 genera and 2 subfamilies, distributed worldwide. Members are characterized by their small size, plump body form, and dense covering of setae that gives them a velvety appearance. They inhabit humid terrestrial and marginal freshwater habitats, including mossy areas, pond margins, and stream banks with abundant vegetation.
Hebroidea
Velvet Water Bugs
Hebroidea is a superfamily of Heteroptera (true bugs) established by Amyot & Serville in 1843, containing the family Hebridae. Members are known as velvet water bugs and represent the smallest group within the infraorder Gerromorpha. They inhabit semiaquatic environments with dense vegetation.
Hydrometridae
marsh treaders, water measurers
Hydrometridae is a family of semiaquatic true bugs comprising over 147 species across seven genera and three subfamilies. Members are characterized by extremely elongated, slender bodies and heads that give them a measuring-stick appearance. They inhabit water surface margins of lakes, ponds, and wetlands worldwide, with greatest diversity in tropical regions. Some lineages have independently evolved terrestrial habits in insular Pacific habitats.
Mesoveliidae
Water Treaders
Mesoveliidae is a family of semiaquatic true bugs comprising approximately 16 genera and at least 50 described species. Commonly known as water treaders, these predaceous insects occupy diverse habitats ranging from humid terrestrial environments to aquatic margins, including mangrove estuaries, freshwater surfaces, and even coastal caves and lava tubes. The family exhibits remarkable habitat plasticity, with some species adapted to intertidal marine conditions and others to fully terrestrial or cave-dwelling lifestyles. Molecular phylogenetic studies have challenged traditional subfamily classifications, suggesting polyphyly within Mesoveliinae.
Microvelia
small water striders, riffle bugs
Microvelia is a large genus of small semiaquatic bugs comprising at least 230 described species distributed worldwide. These insects inhabit nearshore areas of stagnant or slow-flowing freshwater, where they move on the water surface using surface tension. The genus exhibits wing dimorphism, with populations containing both fully winged (macropterous) and short-winged (brachypterous) individuals. Several subgenera have been recognized including Austromicrovelia, Barbivelia, Pacificovelia, and Picaultia, based on phylogenetic and morphological analyses.
Microvelia americana
Broad-Shouldered Water Strider
Microvelia americana is a small water strider in the family Veliidae, commonly known as the Broad-Shouldered Water Strider. It inhabits aquatic environments across North America. As a member of the Gerromorpha, it is adapted to life on the water surface, using surface tension to move and forage.
Microvelia beameri
Microvelia beameri is a small water strider in the family Veliidae, described by McKinstry in 1937. The species belongs to a genus characterized by small body size and the ability to skate on water surfaces. Records indicate presence across Caribbean, Middle America, and North America. Very few observations exist in public databases, suggesting either rarity or underreporting due to its minute size.
Microvelia buenoi
smaller water strider
Microvelia buenoi is a small semiaquatic bug in the family Veliidae, commonly known as smaller water striders. The species was described by Drake in 1920 and occurs across a broad transcontinental range spanning Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. Like other members of the genus Microvelia, it inhabits the surface film of freshwater habitats where it moves with characteristic rapid, darting movements. The specific epithet honors entomologist Erika Bueno's family name, though this appears coincidental rather than commemorative.
Rhagovelia becki
Rhagovelia becki is a species of small water strider in the family Veliidae, described by Drake and Harris in 1936. Like other members of the genus Rhagovelia, this species is adapted to life on the water surface, utilizing the middle and hind legs for propulsion. The species has been recorded from Middle America and North America, though detailed ecological studies remain limited. It belongs to a diverse genus containing over 100 described species, many of which occupy specialized microhabitats along streams and rivers.
Rhagovelia choreutes
Rhagovelia choreutes is a species of small water strider in the family Veliidae. It belongs to the infraorder Gerromorpha, a group of semiaquatic true bugs adapted to life on the water surface. The species was described by Hussey in 1925. It occurs in running water habitats in parts of North and Central America.