True water striders

Code QH579999

The water striders (or true water striders, to distinguish them from Hydrometridae). Small to large, very long-legged bugs which skate rapidly on the water surface. They inhabit all types of still or slowly moving water including marine shores, and some members of the family roam freely over tropical oceans. Four subfamilies and about 32 species are known from Australian inland waters.

Gerridae are elongate-oval to strongly elongate bugs with a pointed head, long antennae, and prominent eyes. The forelegs are fairly long and are set well forward, the midlegs extremely long and the hindlegs only a little shorter. The mid and hind legs are set close together. When extended backward, the hind femora invariably reach past the end of the abdomen.

Reference:

Carver, M., Gross, G.F. and Woodward, T.E. (1991) Hemiptera. pp. 429-509. In: CSIRO, Insects of Australia. Volume 1. Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Victoria.