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File:Water_strider_(Gerridae_sp.)_Makiling.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

EntityQ270322· pop 65· linked from 377 articles

Gerridae

Also known as water striders, water bugs

thumb|Nymph in Cyprus thumb|Walking on water surface; the dark blobs are shadows cast by water disturbances around each of the six legs touching the water.

AI overview

Gerridae are water striders, small insects that can walk on the surface of water by distributing their weight across specially adapted legs and relying on water's surface tension. They're notable because they demonstrate how some animals have evolved remarkable physical adaptations to live in environments where most other creatures cannot easily survive.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Species

pondskaters

Gerridae

FAMILY

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderHemiptera
FamilyGerridae

Habitatmarine, brackish, freshwater

Observations recorded187,867

Water striders skate on the water surface by making use of the surface tension. They can also make fairly large leaps. There are nineteen species of water striders in the Netherlands. One well-known species is the pond skater (or Jesus bug). Another common skater, but a species of beetle, is the whirligig beetle.

via GBIF

Wikidata facts

Image: Water strider G remigis.jpg

Show 3 more facts

Commons category: Gerridae
taxon name: Gerridae
taxon common name: водомерки

Sources (5)

via Wikidata · CC0

~22 min read

Article

22 sections

Contents

Description
Size
Antennae
Thorax
Appendages
Wings
Evolution
Wing polymorphism
Ability to move on water's surface
Life cycle
Ecology
Habitat
Diet
Predators
Parasites
Dispersal
Mating behavior
Social behavior
In popular culture
See also
References
External links

thumb|Nymph in Cyprus thumb|Walking on water surface; the dark blobs are shadows cast by water disturbances around each of the six legs touching the water.

The Gerridae are a family of insects in the order Hemiptera, commonly known as water striders, water skeeters, water scooters, water bugs, pond skaters, water skippers, water gliders, water skimmers or puddle flies. They are true bugs of the suborder Heteroptera and have mouthparts evolved for piercing and sucking. A distinguishing feature is the ability to move on top of the 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 described, 10% of them being marine.