The Gerridae are a family of insects in the order Hemiptera, commonly known as water striders, water skeeters, water scooters, pond skaters, water skippers, water gliders, water skimmers or puddle flies. True bugs of the suborder Heteroptera with mouthparts evolved for piercing and sucking, they are distinguished by their ability to move across the surface of water, making them pleuston, or surface-living, animals. More than 1,700 species of gerrids have been described, about 10 percent of them marine, and they can be found on most ponds, rivers and lakes.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) System (Realm) Living or Extinct Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceGenerally small, long-legged insects, with the body length of most species between 2 and 12 mm 1 Scientific Name Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Wikidata: Water Strider
In Biome
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Denmark, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Norway, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Sweden, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: United States, found in there.
Sources
1. Gerridae, Wikipedia
Introductory paragraph
The Gerridae are a family of insects in the order Hemiptera, commonly known as water striders
Description
They are generally small, long-legged insects and the body length of most species is between 2 and 12 mm (0.08-0.47 in).
- In Biome: River, Wikipedia intro: "e water's surface, making them pleuston (surface-living) animals. They can be found on most ponds, rivers or lakes, and over 1,700 species of gerrids have been..."
View the Source2. GBIF Species API
3. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ270322, descriptionView the Source Wikidata: Water Strider
- Wikidata Q270322, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
- Child Taxon Of: Hemiptera, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
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