order
Coleoptera
“Adult Beetles”
Coleoptera
“Larval Beetles”
Diptera
“True Flies”
Ephemeroptera
“Mayflies”
Hemiptera
“True Bugs”
Lepidoptera
“Aquatic Caterpillars, Snout Moths”
Megaloptera
“Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies”
Odonata
“Dragonflies and Damselflies”
Plecoptera
“Stoneflies”
Trichoptera
“Caddisflies”
family
Gerridae
genus
Gerris
“Water Striders”
Genus Overview
10 species in North America.
Characteristics
POLLUTION TOLERANCE
No pollution tolerance ranges defined.
FEEDING HABITS
Piercer / Predator
MOVEMENT
Skater
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread (east of the Rocky Mtns.)
HABITAT
Lentic-limnetic
Lentic-littoral
Lotic-depositional
Lentic-littoral
Lotic-depositional
Diagnostic Characters
order
Hemelytra
Needle-like Beak
family
Anteapical Claws
Antennae Longer than Head
Hind Femora Longer than Abdomen
Middle Legs Closer to Hind Legs
genus
Eyes Concave
+ Expanded Character List
Order:
Adults: With or without wings. If wings present, forewings typically leathery or hard basally and translucent and flexible apically. Nymphs: With or without wing pads. Segmented legs present. Mandibles hidden within needle-like beak in adults and nymphs.
Family:
Antennae longer than head and conspicuous in dorsal view. If wings present, membrane without distinct, similar cells defined by wing veins. Claws of at least front tarsi arising before tarsal apices. Hind femora much longer than abdomen.
Genus:
eyes endented at midpoint, legs long, pronotum dull, 1st antennae segment similiar in length to combined others,
Dorsal
Ventral