The Gerridae are a family of insects in the order Hemiptera, commonly known as water striders, water skeeters, water scooters, water bugs, pond skaters, water skippers, water gliders, water skimmers or puddle flies. Consistent with the classification of the Gerridae as true bugs (i.e., suborder Heteroptera), gerrids have mouthparts evolved for piercing and sucking and distinguish themselves by having the unusual ability to walk on water, making them pleuston (surface-living) animals. Water striders have long, slender legs that distribute their weight over a large area. Their legs are also covered in tiny hairs that repel water and trap air, which increases their buoyancy. They are anatomically built to transfer their weight to be able to run on top of the water's surface. As a result, one could likely find water striders present in any pond, river, or lake. Over 1,700 species of gerrids have been described, 10% of them being marine. Water strider (Gerridae) insects hovering over the river water at Tarangar, West Bengal, India on 12/12/2024.
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