What are the other names for water striders?
Water striders are also known as water skeeters, water scooters, pond skaters, water skippers and water gliders due to their ability to glide on water.
How do water striders glide on water?
Water striders have exceptionally long legs as well as thousands of hydrophobic hairs covering their body. These hair trap air allowing them to stay afloat. With evenly distributed body weight, they use the surface tension of water to glide.
Where are water striders found?
Water striders are found on the surface of calm, freshwater ponds, lakes, marshes, slow-moving rivers and quiet streams. About 10% of water strider species are marine dwellers.
What is the diet of water striders?
Water striders eat insects and insect larvae, like mosquitoes, damselflies and dragonflies. They are known to scavenge for dead insects on waterbodies.
About the Authors
Femi Ezhuthupallickal Benny
Femi is a PhD student at University College London (UCL), working on the ecology and behavior of Asian giant hornets. Passionate about insects, especially wasps, she loves fieldwork in underexplored places, studying how insects interact with their environment and discovering new species while at it!
