Family: Gerridae

Water striders are found on the water surface of all types of standing waters and the slower, sheltered areas of rivers and streams. The hydrofuge hairs on the leg tips enable them to stand on the water surface without breaking the surface tension of the water. In some species normal winged (macropterous), partial wing development (brachypterous) and no winged (apterous) adults can found. All are predatory feeding on insects and other invertebrates that get caught in the water surface film.

References:

Brooks A. R. and L. A. Kelton. 1967. Aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba (Hemiptera). Mem. Entomol. Soc. Canada 51: 1-92

Clifford, H.F. 1991. Aquatic Invertebrates of Alberta. University of Alberta Press. Edmonton, Alberta.

Mau, H.E.L., R.G. Foottit, K.G.A. Hamilton and G.G.E. Scudder. 2000. Checklist of the Hemiptera of Canada and Alaska. NRC Research Press, Ottawa, ON.

Polhemus, J.T. 2008. Chapter 15: Aquatic and semiaquatic Hemiptera. In. Merritt, R.W., K.W. Cummins, and M.B. Berg. An introduction to the aquatic insects of North America. Fourth Edition. Kendall/Hunt Publ. Co. Dubuque, Iowa.