The Gerromorpha comprise an

infraorder Order ( la, ordo) is one of the eight major hierarchical taxonomic ranks in Linnaean taxonomy. It is classified between family and class. In biological classification, the order is a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms and ...

insects Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs ...

in the "true bug"

order Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...

Hemiptera. These "typical" bugs (

suborder Order ( la, ordo) is one of the eight major hierarchical taxonomic ranks in Linnaean taxonomy. It is classified between family and class. In biological classification, the order is a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms and ...

Heteroptera) are commonly called semiaquatic bugs or shore-inhabiting bugs. The

Ochteroidea Nepomorpha is an infraorder of insects in the "true bug" order ( Hemiptera). They belong to the "typical" bugs of the suborder Heteroptera. Due to their aquatic habits, these animals are known as true water bugs. They occur all over the world ...

(infraorder

Nepomorpha Nepomorpha is an infraorder of insects in the "true bug" order ( Hemiptera). They belong to the "typical" bugs of the suborder Heteroptera. Due to their aquatic habits, these animals are known as true water bugs. They occur all over the world ...

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 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, or water skimmers. Consistent with the classification of the Gerridae as tr ...

(water striders).

Systematics

The eight

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

families usually recognized are arranged in four superfamilies. The two small or

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...

ones of these are

basal Basal or basilar is a term meaning ''base'', ''bottom'', or ''minimum''. Science * Basal (anatomy), an anatomical term of location for features associated with the base of an organism or structure * Basal (medicine), a minimal level that is nec ...

lineages; the two larger ones form a more advanced clade. The

phylogenetic In biology, phylogenetics (; from Greek φυλή/ φῦλον [] "tribe, clan, race", and wikt:γενετικός, γενετικός [] "origin, source, birth") is the study of the evolutionary history and relationships among or within groups o ...

sequence of superfamilies and families of the Gerromorpha is:ToL (1995) * Mesovelioidea – water treaders ** Madeoveliidae (sometimes included in Mesoveliidae) ** Mesoveliidae * Hebroidea – velvet bugs **

Hebridae Velvet water bugs are members of the family Hebridae. They are semiaquatic insects that live among moss or ponds with an abundance of vegetation, in which they prey on small arthropods. Velvet water bugs are the smallest of the Gerromorpha, and ...

( Hyrcaninae might arguably be considered a good family as the superfamily is monotypic otherwise.) * Hydrometroidea ** Paraphrynoveliidae **

Hydrometridae Hydrometridae is a family of semiaquatic insects, known as ''marsh treaders'' or ''water measurers''. They have a characteristic elongated head and body which makes them resemble a yardstick for measuring the water surface. Appearance Hydrometr ...

– water measurers ** Macroveliidae *

Gerroidea Gerroidea is a superfamily of semiaquatic bugs in the order Hemiptera. There are at least 3 families and more than 2,000 described species in Gerroidea. Families These three families belong to the superfamily Gerroidea: * Gerridae Leach, 1815 ...

Hermatobatidae ''Hermatobates'' is a genus of wingless marine bugs placed as the sole genus in the family Hermatobatidae that are sometimes known as coral-treaders. They are quite rare and known only from coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. During low tide, ...

– water striders **

Veliidae Veliidae is a family of gregarious predatory insects in the suborder Heteroptera. They are commonly known as riffle bugs, small water striders, or broad-shouldered water striders because the segment immediately behind the head is wider than the ...

– riffle bugs

Systematics

References

Further reading