Gerridae - Water Striders

Water striders are ubiquitous surface dwellers of virtually all aquatic systems, although they tend to avoid water that is too turbulent. There are 17 species in 7 genera recorded in the state of Michigan, with another 2 species likely to occur based on records from nearby localities. Note: species denoted in bold-blue have been recorded in Michigan, other are likely to be found in the state based on existed regional distribution records.

Gerrinae

Aquarius Schellenberg, 1800

Aquarius conformis (Uhler), 1878, Hydrotrechus - Henry and Froeschner 1988
   • Gerris (Hydrotrechus) conformis Torre-Bueno, 1905
   • Gerris conformis Torre-Bueno, 1908
Aquarius remigis (Say), 1832 Gerris
   • Gerris orba Stål, 1859
   • Hygrotrechus robustus Uhler, 1872
   • Hygrotrechus remigis Uhler, 1872
   • Hydrometra orba Walker, 1873
   • Gerris robustus Walker, 1873
   • Gerris remigis Torre-Bueno, 1905
   • Hygrotrechus orba Van Duzee, 1914

Gerris Fabricius, 1794

Gerris alacris Hussey, 1931
Gerris argenticollis Parshley, 1916
Gerris buenoi Kirkaldy, 1911
Gerris comatus comatus Drake and Hottes, 1925
Gerris insperatus Drake and Hottes, 1925 - IL, IN, MN, OH, ON
Gerris marginatus Say, 1832
   • Limnotrechus marginatus Uhler, 1972
   • Gerris marginata Frost, 1925

Limnoporus Stål, 1868

Limnoporus canaliculatus (Say), 1832 Gerris
   • Gerris (Limnotrechus) canaliculatus Torre-Bueno, 1905
   • Gerris canaliculatus Torre-Bueno, 1911
Limnoporus dissortis (Drake and Harris), 1930 Gerris
Limnoporus rufoscutellatus (Latreille), 1807 Gerris - WI (error?), check for possible Michigan record

          Neogerris Matsumura, 1913

Neogerris hesione (Kirkaldy), 1902 Gerris
   • Limnogonus hesione Kirkaldy and Torre-Bueno, 1909
   • Tenagogonus hesione Van Duzee, 1916
   • Gerris (Tenagogonus) hesione Torre-Bueno, 1921
   • Gerris (Limnogonus) hesione Torre-Bueno, 1925
   • Limnogonus (Limnogonellus) hesione Hungerford and Matsuda, 1959

Rhagodotarsinae

Rheumatobates Bergroth, 1892

Rheumatobates palosi Blatchley, 1926, as R. rileyi var. palosi
Rheumatobates rileyi Bergroth, 1892

Trepobatinae

Metrobates Uhler, 1871

Metrobates hesperius Uhler, 1871
   • Halobatopsis beginii Ashmead, 1897

Trepobates Uhler, 1894

Trepobates inermis Esaki, 1926
Trepobates knighti Drake and Harris, 1928
Trepobates pictus (Herrich-Schaeffer), 1847 Halobates
   • Stephania picta White, 1883
Trepobates subnitidus Esaki, 1926

References

Andersen NM. 1990. Phylogeny and taxonomy of water striders, genus Aquarius Schellenberg (Insecta, Hemiptera, Gerridae), with a new species from Australia. Steenstrupia 16(4):37-81.
Smith CL. 1988. Family Gerridae Leach, 1815. The Water Striders, pp. 140-155 in Henry, TJ., Froeschner, RC. (eds.). 1988. Catalog of the Heteroptera, or True Bugs, of Canada and the Continental United States. E. J. Brill: Leiden.  958 + xix.

Page created: October 31, 2002 - Last updated: June 5, 2011 (EB)