Water Strider 
Photo: Courtesy of Damon Ramsey
Water Striders, Family Gerridae There are over 30 species in this family in Australia. Water Striders have evolved to live their lives on the surface of water. With their long thin legs they can walk on water using the surface tension, which, on such a small scale, is actually quite strong. They can detect ripples in the water from insects that have fallen and are trapped in that surface tension, and prey on them. They are most common on still fresh water and can be seen in pools of rainforest streams. Often it is the shadows of the indentations in the water surface that are noticed more than the actual insect itself.
Script: Courtesy of Damon Ramsey BSc.(Zool) Biologist Guide |
