Fossil water striders in the Eocene Baltic amber (Hemiptera, Gerromorpha)

Abstract

AbstractWater striders (Hemiptera, Gerromorpha) live on the surface film of freshwater. Adults are often flightless and therefore not prone to be caught in resin exuded by trees on land and subsequently preserved as amber inclusions. Nevertheless, a small number of gerromorphan bugs have so far been reported from Baltic amber. The present paper reports on eight species of Gerromorpha in the Eocene Baltic amber, describing Electrogerris kotashevichi gen. et sp. n. (Gerridae, Gerrinae), Succineogerris larssoni gen. et sp. n. (Gerridae, Gerrinae), and Balticovelia weitschati gen. et sp. n. (Veliidae, Veliinae) and redescribing Electrovelia baltica Andersen (Veliidae, Veliinae) and Metrocephala anderseni Popov (Hydrometridae, Hydrometrinae) based upon additional and better preserved specimens. Finally, the phylogenetic, palaeobiological, and biogeographic significance of these amber fossils are discussed.