Summary ⁴

Veliidae is a family of predatory insects in the suborder Heteroptera. They are commonly known as riffle bugs, smaller water striders or broad-shouldered water striders because the segment immediately behind the head is wider than the rest of the abdomen, unlike in the typical water striders (Gerridae), close relatives which are also in superfamily Gerrioidea. Unlike some Gerridae, riffle bugs are small, typically about 4.5 mm.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Jason M Crockwell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Jason M Crockwell
2. (c) kim fleming, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/48889105167@N01/5288646167
3. S. E. Thorpe, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Microvelia_macgregori_male_macropter.jpg
4. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veliidae

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• BugGuide
• Catalogue of Palaearctic Heteroptera
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

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