Catalogue of the Water Striders (Hemiptera: Gerridae) of Mississippi

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5744-2094

Authors

• Chase G. Fry, Mississippi Entomological Museum
• Patricia L.S. Wooden, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityFollow

Abstract

Water striders (Hemiptera: Gerridae) are skating aquatic insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts that opportunistically feed on prey trapped by surface tension. The presence or absence of water striders and other aquatic Hemiptera in water systems may be important indicators of water quality. Despite their importance, the last aquatic Hemiptera checklist for the state was published in 1988. Since this publication, humans have altered waterways to meet their needs, and Gerridae taxonomy has continued to evolve. This study aims to create a current checklist of Gerridae, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the species found in Mississippi before aquatic habitats are lost, and to digitize collection data for ease of scientific access. This study was based on specimens deposited in the Mississippi Entomological Museum (MEM), online databases, and collections by the authors.

As a result of these efforts, 1,661 historical and recently collected specimens were digitized. Here we present an updated list of the Gerridae currently known to occur in Mississippi, including one new state record and 124 new county records.

Recommended Citation

Fry, Chase G. and Wooden, Patricia L.S. (2026) "Catalogue of the Water Striders (Hemiptera: Gerridae) of Mississippi," Midsouth Entomologist: Vol. 19: No. 1, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55533/1936-6019.1150

Available at: https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/midsouthent/vol19/iss1/2