Water Strider
They are sometimes called pond skaters and Jesus Bugs because they "walk" on water.

What they look like:
Water Striders are flat and long without wings, and easy to identify by the second and third pairs of legs that are almost twice as long as their bodies. They have short forelegs to attack and hold their prey.

Size:
8-12 mm long.

Where they live:
Water Striders live on the surfaces of ponds, slow streams and other quiet waters. They often gather in small groups. When alarmed by strong vibrations in the water, they will scurry off to find shelter.

What they eat:
Water Striders are both predators and scavengers. They feed on a variety of aquatic invertebrates including seed shrimp and mosquito larvae that rise to the surface, and insects that drop into the water. The Water Strider has a piercing, sucking mouth. It pushes its mouth into the insect prey and sucks it dry. It can locate its prey by feeling the smallest movements or vibrations made in the surface of the water.

What’s interesting about Water Striders?

• Their legs have tiny, water-repellent hairs that hold tiny air bubbles, allowing them to skate on the surface of the water.



• The Strider moves with a jerking, pushing movement of its middle legs. It steers with its back legs.



• Their bodies are covered with soft, velvety hairs that hold a thin film of air through which they breathe.



• They make ripples on the water surface to attract mates.



• They can escape predators by going underwater. When the danger is past, they pop to the surface of the water and stand back up on their four legs.

Where they fit in:
> Phylum Arthropoda > Class Insecta > Order Hemiptera > Family Gerridae > Genus Five recorded from freshwaters > Species 12 recorded from Australian freshwaters.