Marine Biology Research Division

The genus Halobates, first described by Eschscholtz (1822) was monographed by Herring (1961), with notes on biology and known distribution of the 38 known species and a key for their separation. More recently Savilov (1967) provided additional information on the distribution of the Pacific species. Our knowledge on the biology and ecology of these unique oceanic insects is very scanty.

Our knowledge of the limits of distribution of oceanic Halobates is still very incomplete. From available data they seem to be largely determined by the climatic conditions of the water, and there is no doubt that wind as well as water current play an important role in their distribution. An understanding of the relative importance of these two dispersive factors may help us to understand the distributions not only of Halohates but also of other pleuston organisms.