Halobates or sea skaters are a genus with over 40 species of water striders. While many are coastal, about five of these are able to survive and stand on the surface of the open ocean, a habitat containing very few insect species. They are predators, coastal species feeding mainly on fallen terrestrial insects while the oceanic species feed on plankton. The coastal species lay their eggs on rocks near the shore, the oceanic species attach their egg masses on floating objects such as cuttlebone, feathers and plastic waste. Species are found around the world, commonly near the equator. Most are tiny, the body length being about half a centimeter but with long legs of up to 2 centimeters. They are wingless and the abdomen is short and compressed compared to the length of the thorax. Gravid fe