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HEMIPTERA 295
or brachypterous. Hemelytra smooth, shiny, partly transparent, often punctulate.
Corium with one or two distinct veins; clavus distinct; membrane with
four or five long closed cells or areoles. Legs slender. Hind coxre long and large,
femora and tibire long and, with the aid of the wings, permitting great elasticity
in jumping and running. Tarsi three-segmented. Claws present.
The members are predacious upon aquatic and semiaquatic mites and insects
and are particularly fond of the numerous gnats, mosquitoes, and other members
of the order DIPTERA. The family is a comparatively small one, but the
members are widely distributed throughout the world and are especially well
represented in North America. There are approximately 150 species belonging
chiefly to the genera Chartoscirta Stal, Halosalda Reuter, Pentacora Reuter,
Solda Fab., and Soldula Van Duzee. The most important of these is Saldula,
with 11 European and 17 American species. Of these S. pallipes (Fab.), S. saltatoria
(Linn.), and S. scolica (Curtis) are Holarctic and the first of these is
Nearctic as well. S. orthochila (Fieber) differs from most of the other members
in preferring dry exposures such as sand hills, sand and chalk pits, dry heaths,
and commons in Europe. Salda ii/toraHs (Linn.) is also Holarctic.
Section AMPHIBICORISlE Dufour 1833
Family GERRIDlE 1 (Leach 1815) (Ger'ri-dfe, from the Latin gems, gerris, a
small sea fish; referring to their being small and aquatic). German,
Wasserlaufer. Water Striders, Skippers, Pond Skaters.
Medium-sized, linear, or short, somewhat flattened, velvety, apterous,
winged, or brachypterous, long-legged, somber-colored insects which are subaquatic
in that they skate around on the surface of the water and lay their
eggs in water, the eggs being inserted into plant tissues or attached to plants
and other objects in gelatinous masses. They are predacious in habits and prey
upon such small insects as fall into the water or as feed or rest upon water
plants. They also feed upon dead insects and other animals aVlililable. They
literally walk upon the water, using the long middle and hind legs for this
purpose and carrying the short raptorial forelegs in front for capturing and
holding the prey. The bodies are either very slender or very short, hard, and
clothed, especially on the venter, with a silvery pubescence which appears to
be absolutely waterproof and enables them to cruise about in perfect safety.
The head is elongated, pointed in front and widest at the eyes. Antennre short,
slender, four-segmented. Eyes large and exserted. Ocelli present, often greatly
reduced. Rostrum four-segmented; segment I short. Thorax usually the
1 Various names given to this group of insects include GERRIDA Leach 1815; GERRIDES
Amyot flnd Serville 1843; GERRIDJE Dohrn 1859. Lethierry and Severin 1886. Kirkald17
1909, Reuter 1910. Van Duzee 1917, Schroder 1925, Weber 1930. Brues and Melander 1932.
Hedicke 1935; HYDROMETRIDiE Stephens 1829, Kirby 1837, Uhler 1884; HYDRO­
BA. TIDA. StaI1865; HYDROBATIDJE Uhler 1884, 1886.
The families VELIIDlE Douglas and Scott 1865. HYDROMETRIDJE Uhler 1884.
AEPOPBILIDJE Lethierry and Severin 1896. and MESOVELIII)jE Reuter 1910 have been
separated 'IS distinct.