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gerromorpha

(Infraorder)

Overview

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Taxonomy

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The Infraorder gerromorpha is a member of the Suborder Heteroptera. Here is the complete "parentage" of Gerromorpha:

The Infraorder gerromorpha is further organized into finer groupings including:

Families

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Gerridae

The family Gerridae contains insects commonly known as water striders, water bugs, magic bugs, pond skaters, skaters, skimmers, water scooters, water skaters, water skeeters, water skimmers or water skippers. These are predatory insects which rely on surface tension to walk on top of water. They live on the surface of ponds, slow streams, marshes, and other quiet waters. They can move very quickly, up to 1.5 m/s. [more]

Hebridae

Velvet water bugs are members of the family Hebridae. They are semiaquatic insects that live among moss or ponds with an abundance of vegetation, in which they prey on small arthropods. Velvet water bugs are the smallest of the Gerromorpha, and have an appearance of tiny veliids. Hebrids sometimes move across water surfaces, but walk or run rather than skate or scull on the surface. [more]

Hermatobatidae

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Hydrometridae

Hydrometridae is a family of semi-aquatic insects, known as marsh treaders or water measurers. They have a characteristic elongated head and body which makes them resemble a yardstick for measuring the water surface. [more]

Macroveliidae

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Madeoveliidae

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Mesoveliidae

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Paraphrynoveliidae

[more]

Veliidae

Veliidae is a family of predatory insects in the suborder Heteroptera. They are commonly known as smaller water striders, riffle bugs, or broad-shouldered water striders due to the fact that the segment immediately behind the head is wider than the rest of the abdomen. They are small, typically about 4.5 mm. [more]

At least 49 species and subspecies belong to the Family Veliidae.

More info about the Family Veliidae may be found here.

Sources

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Last Revised: June 24, 2008