A Bug on the Ocean Waves (Heteroptera, Gerridae, Halobates ESCHSCHOLTZ)1
© Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at A bug on the ocean waves (Heteroptera, Gerridae, Halobates ESCHSCHOLTZ)1 L. CHENG Abstract: Five species of Halobates are the only insects known to live on the open ocean. Here is a brief description of what they are, where to find them, some of their special adaptations and their origins. Key words: Gerridae, Halobates, Heteroptera, marine, ocean. Introduction scribed species (ANDERSEN & WEIR 2004). Most of the known gerrid species are fresh- Insects are ubiquitous on land but they water in habitat and can be found on ponds, are commonly thought to be completely ab- lakes, streams, rivers, waterfalls and even sent from the sea, which covers more than temporary rain-filled pools. However, some 70 % of the earth’s surface. This is actually 80 species are considered marine. These be- not quite true. A large variety of insects do long to 11 genera in 3 subfamilies: Trepo- occur in various marine environments batinae, Rhagadotarsinae, and Halobatinae, (CHENG 1976). In fact, marine representa- to which Halobates belongs. tives can be found in at least 20 orders of the Insecta (CHENG 2003), the most important The genus Halobates was created in 1822 being the Collembola, Heteroptera, Coleo- by ESCHSCHOLTZ for 3 insect species collect- ptera and Diptera (CHENG & FRANK 1993). ed during a circumnavigation expedition. Among the Gerromorpha (Heteroptera), Many new species were added during the marine species can be found in five of the subsequent years, some from major ocean six known families: Gerridae, Hebridae, basins and others from various near-shore Hermatobatidae, Mesoveliidae and Veli- habitats.
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