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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Semiaquatic Bugs (Gerromorpha)

Infraorder Gerromorpha - Semiaquatic Bugs

Classification · Numbers · Identification · Habitat · Food · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Gerris remigis ? - Aquarius remigis Lily pad bug - Mesovelia Velvet Water Bug - Hebrus Water Striders - Aquarius remigis - male - female Aquarius remigis Trepobates floridensis - female Water Strider found in NW Oregon Rhagovelia? - Rhagovelia distincta - female
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Infraorder Gerromorpha (Semiaquatic Bugs)
Numbers
>2,100 spp. in ~160 genera of 8 families worldwide(1) (one fam. is so. African, one is Indo-Pacific); ca. 110 spp. in 6 families in our area
Identification
Good practical keys provided in(2)(3)(4)(5)
Habitat
water surface or riparian habitats close to the freshwater edge; some in open ocean (the only truly marine insects)
Food
living or dead arthropods(6)
Remarks
Most are skaters (slow walkers on surface film)(6)
Print References
(7)
Internet References
(8)
Works Cited
1.Biodiversity of the Heteroptera
Henry T.J. 2009. In: Foottit R.G., Adler P.H., eds. Insect biodiversity: Science and society. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell: 223−263.
2.How to Know the True Bugs
Slater, James A., and Baranowski, Richard M. 1978. Wm. C. Brown Company.
3.Clifford H.F. (1991) Aquatic invertebrates of Alberta
4.Bright E. (2002-2011) Aquatic Insects of Michigan
5.Identification manual for the aquatic and semi-aquatic Heteroptera of Florida
Epler J.H. 2006. FL Dept. Env. Prot., Tallahassee, FL. 186 pp.
6.Aquatic Insects of North America
R. W. Merritt, K. W. Cummins, M.B. Berg. 2008. Kendall/Hunt.
7.Encyclopedia of South American aquatic insects: Hemiptera-Heteroptera: illustrated keys to known families, genera, and species
Heckman C.W. 2011. Springer. ix+679 pp.
8.Taylor S.J. (2001-2011) Checklist of Illinois Gerromorpha (Heteroptera)
Contributed by v belov on 24 December, 2009 - 4:02pm
Last updated 7 March, 2013 - 9:25pm

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