A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Gerridae family
Gerridae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera, commonly known as water striders, water bugs, magic bugs, pond skaters, skaters, skimmers, water scooters, water skaters, water skeeters, water skimmers, water skippers, water spiders, or Jesus bugs. One main characteristic that sets gerrids and other true bugs apart from other insects is that the front wing is only half functional. Rather than using it for flight, it acts as a membranous covering and the thickened part is by where claws develop. Consistent with the classification of Gerridae as true bugs, gerrids have a mouthpart evolved for piercing and sucking, gerrids distinguish themselves by having the unique ability to walk on water.
Gerridae, or water striders, 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. Scientists have identified over 1,700 species of gerrids, 10% of them being marine. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerridae)
Found in the paddy fields of Vadakkenchery, Palakkad District, Kerala
In the USA, we call these "Water Striders" or "Pond Skimmers". They actually stay on TOP of the surface tension of the water, which is what makes the little "dots" you can see in the water. They are remarkably hard to catch!
Spotted on Jan 20, 2013
Submitted on Jan 21, 2013
