Water Stiders - It's Mating Season

16 May 2022
WATER STRIDERS may resemble a spider, but it is a true #insect, not a spider. Spiders have 8 legs, insects have 6 (3 sets). If you can picture a canoe with three people that spotted a floating wallet upon a lake, let’s say. The person in front will be the “grabber” of the wallet. The person in the middle will be the strongest, paddler maybe with the longest reach, and paddling duration. The person in the back is the one that helps paddle, but its main job is to steer the canoe. That is basically how the legs of a water strider work. The front legs are short and meant for grabbing of prey. The middle legs are longer, stronger, and are used as the main paddler, or in this case striding. The back legs are shorter and though they are also used to help paddle, their more important function is for steering. Water striders do have wings, but the length of wings depend upon their environment and species within that environment. Some do not have wings at all! Striders can fly (if they have wings, of course) from one body of water to another, but generally, if they have enough water and food to live contently, they pretty much stay put and don’t stray. These insects, though can bite humans, generally, they don’t. I’ve never been bitten and look how often I’m in the water. They do eat smaller insects they find floating in the water or hovering just above it. Their favorite, it seems, are the larvae of the pesky mosquito. If in danger, the strider can fly or even dip under the surface. Water striders are “Jesus-Like”, meaning they can walk on water thanks to those ever-hairy legs of theirs. That must be the same reason why I float so easily, too? Speaking of legs, the legs of these insects cannot walk on anything but water! I’ve scooped many up while swimming and they just lay limp, unable to move. Pretty cool, huh? (Google photo - sci-tru.com/wat...)
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