Water strider (Hemiptera).  Click on image to enlarge. Water Striders

Scientific name:
(Hemiptera: Gerridae)

Facts: Water striders actually skate on the water surface. The surface of all water is slightly denser than the water below it and water striders can actually sit on that surface film layer. They can fly or skate across the water surface very rapidly and are often found on flowing streams.

Photo credit: Bastiaan (Bart) Drees


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Last modified: January 16, 2003 by John A. Jackman