A genus of insects known as sea skaters or water striders that live on the surface of open oceans, the only insects known to inhabit the open sea.
From Greek halos meaning 'salt' or 'sea' combined with bates, from bainein meaning 'to walk.' The name literally means 'ocean walkers' or 'salt walkers.'
Halobates are the only insects that have conquered the open ocean—they live thousands of miles from land on the water's surface, using surface tension to skip across waves and feeding on tiny floating creatures, a completely unique ecological niche.
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