Water Striders

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In the rainforest, water strider, which belongs to the family Gerridae in the order Hemiptera, inhabits damp habitat like streams especially near the banks. Most water striders are large insects with elongated body, long and slender legs, and large eyes visible up close. The middle legs mainly help the water strider move on the water surface and the front ones are use to handle prey.

water strider, pond skater, gerridae, hemiptera, rainforest, walk on water
A water strider can "walk " on water.
Aside from visual cues, water strider or also known as water skater, detects prey in the water via vibration. It feeds on its prey tissues fluid using piercing-sucking mouthparts with the help of strong digestive enzyme. However, water striders are themselves food for other animals like fishes, birds and frogs. For this reason, they have drab coloration that helps them avoid predators.

water strider habitat, rainforest, streams
Rainforest streams are suitable habitat for water striders.
Scientists have long known that water tension partly explains how water striders walk on water. However, recently they also found that microscopic hairs on water striders’ legs trap air bubbles, allowing them to float on water without getting their feet wet.


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