Gerromorpha

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, a far more advanced lineage[2]) 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
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hemiptera
Suborder:	Heteroptera
Infraorder:	Gerromorpha Popov, 1971 [1]
Superfamilies
Gerroidea Hebroidea Hydrometroidea Mesovelioidea

Systematics

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:[3]

• Mesovelioidea – water treaders
  • Madeoveliidae (sometimes included in Mesoveliidae)
  • Mesoveliidae
• Hebroidea – velvet bugs
  • Hebridae (Hyrcaninae might arguably be considered a good family as the superfamily is monotypic otherwise.)
• Hydrometroidea
  • Paraphrynoveliidae
  • Hydrometridae – water measurers
  • Macroveliidae
• Gerroidea
  • Hermatobatidae
  • Gerridae – water striders
  • Veliidae – riffle bugs

References

1. G. Thirumalai. "Checklist of Gerromorpha (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of India" (PDF). Zoological Survey of India.
2. ToL (2005)
3. ToL (1995)

Further reading

• Tree of Life Web Project (ToL) (1995): Gerromorpha. Water striders, water measurers, velvet water bugs, and water treaders. Version of 1995-JAN-01. Retrieved 2008-JUL-28.
• Tree of Life Web Project (ToL) (2005): Heteroptera. True bugs. Version of 2005-JAN-01. Retrieved 2008-JUL-28.