Water strider
Water striders use the surface tension of water to keep their whole body above the water surface. They have long legs with tiny hydrophobic hairs to distribute their weight. The image shows the depression on the water surface due to the strider's weight.
Water striders are very quick and are able to move faster than 1 meter per second. The middle legs provide the forward thrust, the hind legs are used for steering. The front legs are sensors for the ripples in the water caused by struggling insects. Spiders or insects accidentally falling into the water form the main prey of water striders.
Water strider
Water striders use the surface tension of water to keep their whole body above the water surface. They have long legs with tiny hydrophobic hairs to distribute their weight. The image shows the depression on the water surface due to the strider's weight.
Water striders are very quick and are able to move faster than 1 meter per second. The middle legs provide the forward thrust, the hind legs are used for steering. The front legs are sensors for the ripples in the water caused by struggling insects. Spiders or insects accidentally falling into the water form the main prey of water striders.