Water Striders (Gerridae) - 57 Species, Identification & Facts

Aquarius paludum

Aquarius paludum (14 to 16 mm) and A. najas (13 to 17 mm) can be distinguished from all other skaters found in England by their larger size. A. paludum is characterised by long abdominal spines that are angled upward and reach the tip of the abdomen,

Aquarius remigis

Identification: hind tibia at least 4 times length of first hind tarsal segment; connexival spines prominent; pronotum dull; first antennal segment subequal to combined length of antennal segments two and three; greatest width across mesoacetabula (m

Gerris buenoi

Identification: body grayish-brown; pronotum with pale middorsal line and conspicuous whitish stripe along lateral margins; second antennal segment slightly longer than third, and segments 2 & 3 (combined) slightly longer than segment 1; adults usual

Common Pondskater

Gerris lacustris

Approximately 8-10mm, generally brown with a black pronotum and black antennae. There are several similar-looking species of pondskaters, of which this is the commonest and most likely to be found in a garden pond, but examination of a specimen is ne

Toothed Pondskater

Gerris odontogaster

Gerris odontogaster is 7 to 9 mm in length and is most easily distinguished in the male, which has two distinct ‘teeth’ on the underside of the 7th abdominal segment, otherwise it is quite similar to the Common Pondskater ( G. lacustris ). A good pho

Gerris thoracicus

10-12mm. Similar to the Common Pondskater, Gerris lacustris , but usually with an orange disc in the centre of the thorax. Two other Gerris species have this but Gerris thoracicus is the commonest of these. It is usually fully winged and able to fly.

Limnogonus franciscanus

Identification: Males distinguished by smaller size, often divergent pronotal spots, constricted fore tibia, and shape of vesica sclerites

Limnogonus macroconfusus

Identification: males distinguished from L. franciscanus by lack of constriction in fore tibia, larger size, never divergent pronotal spots, and shape of vesica sclerites

Limnoporus canaliculatus

Identification: Best separated from other species by body size

Limnoporus dissortis

Identification: Very similar to L. rufoscutellatus and L. notabilis . Easiest to separate based on range, but overlaps and hybridizes with L. notabilis in Rockies

Limnoporus notabilis

Identification: Can be separated from other spp. by its large size, but very similar to L. rufoscutellatus ; easiest to separate based on range, but the two overlap and hybridize in Rockies

Limnoporus rufoscutellatus

Identification: very similar to L. dissortis and L. notabilis

Rheumatobates palosi

Rheumatobates palosi (Rheumatobates palosi) is a species in the family Gerridae, commonly known as water striders, belonging to the order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies). It is classified within the subfamily Trepobatinae,

Rheumatobates rileyi

Rheumatobates rileyi (Rheumatobates rileyi) is a species in the family Gerridae, commonly known as water striders, belonging to the order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies). It is classified within the subfamily Trepobatinae,

Trepobates floridensis

Identification: Similar to T. subnitidus but smaller Typically darker in coloration, but can be highly variable

Trepobates pictus

Identification: can be distinguished by the long pale lateral stripe on the mesonotum behind the dark lateral pronotal stripe. The pale stripe extends over the entire length of the segment. Slater and Baranowski considered it "extremely variable." Fr