| Name: |
Water Strider |
| AKA: |
Hairy, Scooter |
| Scientific Name: |
Gerris gibbiffer |
| Description: |
1/4 - 1/2 inch; long with narrow body; body covered
with hairs and dark brown or black in color. Front legs are short
to capture food; mid and back legs are long for locomotion on the
surface of water. The leg tarsi are covered with fine hairs (hairlike
setae) that are difficult to wet. Thus the surface tension is very
great between the ends of the legs and the water, enabling the insect
to "walk on water". Due to this surface tension the striders can be
seen making dimples or impressions with the ends of their legs on
the water surface. If the hairs become wet due to oil or detergent
on the water surface, surface tension is broken and the water strider
will sink. Part of adulthood can be spent in a winged stage, enabling
migration. |
| Diet: |
Other small insects that fall onto the surface of the
water. |
| Habitat: |
On quiet water in small coves or protected ponds or
lakes. They can burrow into the mud when their habitat dries up, becoming
dormant until water is replenished. |
| Wanted For: |
Skating on the water. These insects are neat to watch
because they can move so quickly on the water. Watch for them in ponds
or quiet water ways, especially in the mid-western United States.
|
| Last Known Location: |
On the surface of ponds, lakes and streams where they
compete with fish for dinner They have to keep moving so they don't
become dinner for the fish themselves. |
 |
