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order
Coleoptera
“Adult Beetles”
Coleoptera
“Larval Beetles”
Diptera
“True Flies”
Ephemeroptera
“Mayflies”
Hemiptera
“True Bugs”
Lepidoptera
“Aquatic Caterpillars, Snout Moths”
Megaloptera
“Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies”
Odonata
“Dragonflies and Damselflies”
Plecoptera
“Stoneflies”
Trichoptera
“Caddisflies”
Hemiptera
family
Belostomatidae
“Giant Water Bugs”
Corixidae
“Water Boatmen”
Gerridae
“Water Striders”
Naucoridae
“Creeping Water Bugs”
Nepidae
“Waterscorpions”
Notonectidae
“Backswimmers”
Veliidae
“Riffle Bugs”
Gerridae
genus
Gerris
“Water Striders”
Genus Overview
10 species in North America.  
Characteristics
POLLUTION TOLERANCE
0 = least tolerant, 10 = most tolerant
FEEDING HABITS
Piercer / Predator
MOVEMENT
Skater
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread (east of the Rocky Mtns.)
HABITAT
Lentic-limnetic
Lentic-littoral
Lotic-depositional
Diagnostic Characters
Order
Hemelytra
Needle-like Beak
Family
Anteapical Claws
Antennae Longer than Head
Hind Femora Longer than Abdomen
Middle Legs Closer to Hind Legs
Genus
Eyes Concave
+ Expanded Character List
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Dorsal
Ventral