The Gerromorpha comprise an infraorder of insects in the "true bug" order Hemiptera. These "typical" bugs (suborder Heteroptera) are commonly called semiaquatic bugs or shore-inhabiting bugs. The Ochteroidea (infraorder Nepomorpha are also found in shore habitat, while the Gerromorpha are actually most often encountered running around on the water surface, being kept from sinking by surface tension and their water-repellent legs. Well-known members of the Gerromorpha are the namesake Gerridae (water striders).

Gerromorpha
Hygrotechuis conformis (Gerroidea: Gerridae) feeding on a drowned hymenopteran
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Infraorder: Gerromorpha
Popov, 1971 [1]
Superfamilies

Gerroidea
Hebroidea
Hydrometroidea
Mesovelioidea

Systematics

edit

The eight family families usually recognized are arranged in four superfamilies. The two small or monotypic ones of these are basal lineages; the two larger ones form a more advanced clade. The phylogenetic sequence of superfamilies and families of the Gerromorpha is:[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ G. Thirumalai. "Checklist of Gerromorpha (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of India" (PDF). Zoological Survey of India.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ ToL (1995)

Further reading

edit