Bug FAQGerris buenoi
Gerris buenoi · Order: Hemiptera · Family: Gerridae
They are predatory, feeding mainly on other insects that become stranded in the water. The species is most common in spring and early summer, with numbers dropping later in the season.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Fifth-instar nymphs have pale, arrow-shaped markings on the mesothorax that set them apart from other water striders.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults measure roughly 8 to 10 mm in length.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
This water strider is a predacious insect that mainly eats other insects.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There are five nymphal instars, which take roughly two months to develop into adults.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Numbers are highest in spring and early summer and decline in late summer.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Gerris buenoi was first described in 1911 and is native to the continental United States and Canada.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 16 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Alaska, Utah, Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
Questions people ask
How can I tell Gerris buenoi apart from similar water striders?
The fifth-instar has pale, arrow-shaped marks on its mesothorax, which other Gerridae lack.
Source: Wikipedia
When are Gerris buenoi most abundant?
They are most abundant during spring and early summer, with numbers dropping later in the season.
Source: Wikipedia
What do Gerris buenoi eat?
They prey on other insects, especially small ones that fall into the water.
Source: Wikipedia
Where does Gerris buenoi live?
They inhabit the edges of freshwater ponds and small lakes, preferring areas with thick shoreline vegetation.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Gerridae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerris_buenoi
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-29 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-29.