Guardian Nature School Team Contact Blog Project Noah Facebook Project Noah Twitter

A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife

Join Project Noah!
nature school apple icon

Project Noah Nature School visit nature school

Water Strider

Gerridae sp.

Description:

One main characteristic that sets gerrids and other true bugs apart from other insects is that the front wing is only half functional. Rather than using it for flight, it acts as a membranous covering and the thickened part is by where claws develop. Gerrids distinguish themselves by having the unique ability to walk on water. Gerridae, or water striders, are anatomically built to transfer their weight to be able to run on top of the water's surface. As a result, one could likely find water striders present in any pond, river, or lake. Scientists have identified over 1,700 species of Gerrids, 10% of them being marine. Water striders are able to walk on top of water due to a combination of several factors. Water striders use the high surface tension of water and long, hydrophobic legs to help them stay above water. Water molecules are polar and this causes them to attract to each other. The attractive nature results in the formation of a film-like layer at the top of water. This top layer has gravity acting downward in addition to the water molecules below pulling down the upper molecules. This combination creates a touch surface tension. Gerrids undergo aquatic predation and feed on invertebrates, mainly spiders and insects, that fall onto the water surface. The water striders are attracted to this food source by the ripples produced by the struggling prey. The water strider uses its front legs as sensors for the vibrations produced by the ripples in the water. The water strider will grab onto the insect, puncture its body with its claws, and then suck out sustenance in a method called suction feeding. Sex discrimination in Gerridae is determined through communication of ripple frequency produced on the water surface. Males predominantly produce these ripples in the water. There are three main frequencies found in ripple communication: 25 Hz as a repel signal, 10 Hz as a threat signal, and 3 Hz as a courtship signal.

Habitat:

Seen in a water lily pond in my garden.

Notes:

Details from wikipedia.

Species ID Suggestions



Sign in to suggest organism ID

2 Comments

Wild Things
Wild Things 11 years ago

Thanks!

YogeshSave
YogeshSave 11 years ago

Beautiful!!!!! look like painting...

Wild Things
Spotted by
Wild Things

Maharashtra, India

Spotted on Apr 22, 2012
Submitted on Apr 22, 2012

Related Spottings

Water Strider Water striders Water Bugs Water strider

Nearby Spottings

Unnamed spotting Unknown Nest Stink Bug Nymphs Beet Webworm

Reference

Noah Guardians
Noah Sponsors
join Project Noah Team

Join the Project Noah Team