Marine Biology Research Division

Members of the genus Halobates (Heteroptera: Gerridae) are the only known insects found in the oceans, yet they are among the least studied marine organisms. Although these insects have been known to marine biologists and oceanographers since the early 1800's, nothing much was added to our knowledge of these unique insects until the last 20 years (Cheng, 1972). We now know that there are 39 described species found in the world's oceans, seas, and lagoons (Herring, 1961, 1964).