Mating Water Striders
Mating Water Striders. Pinch to zoom and see that there are two bugs! Water striders are small insects that use the surface tension of water to their advantage so they can “walk on water." The secret is that their legs have tiny hairs that repel water and capture air. By repelling water, the tiny water striders stand on the water’s surface and the captured air allows them to float and move easily. They are about a half inch long with a thin body and three sets of legs. The front legs are much shorter than the two sets of back legs and are used for catching and holding food. Water striders eat insects and larvae on the surface of water, such as mosquitoes and fallen dragonflies. (Info from the National Wildlife Federation)
Mating Water Striders
Mating Water Striders. Pinch to zoom and see that there are two bugs! Water striders are small insects that use the surface tension of water to their advantage so they can “walk on water." The secret is that their legs have tiny hairs that repel water and capture air. By repelling water, the tiny water striders stand on the water’s surface and the captured air allows them to float and move easily. They are about a half inch long with a thin body and three sets of legs. The front legs are much shorter than the two sets of back legs and are used for catching and holding food. Water striders eat insects and larvae on the surface of water, such as mosquitoes and fallen dragonflies. (Info from the National Wildlife Federation)