The Gerridae are a family of insects in the order Hemiptera, commonly known as water striders, water skeeters, water scooters, water bugs, pond skaters, water skippers, water gliders, water skimmers or puddle flies.

May 27, 2024 · What is a pond skater? A pond skater, also known as a water strider, is a family of long-legged insects that live on the surface of the water. They belong to the order of Hemiptera, which also includes aphids, bed bugs, and cicadas.

The common pond skater can be seen 'skating' over the surface of ponds, lakes, ditches and slow-moving rivers. It is predatory, feeding on small insects by detecting vibrations in the water's surface.

Apr 10, 2017 · Water striders are one of the most interesting and enjoyable aquatic creatures to observe. Best of all, they’re found widely across the Northern Hemisphere – in lakes, creeks, urban ponds, water features and even mud puddles. Their lives on the water’s surface make them easy for even a young child to observe.

Gerris lacustris, commonly known as the common pond skater or common water strider, is a species of water strider, found across Europe. [2] Water striders vary in length ranging between 8 millimetres (0.31 in) and 10 mm (0.39 in) in size. Their body shape is very slender and elongated.

To move around on the surface, pond skaters scull using their powerful middle legs as oars and their back legs to steer. They use their short front legs to detect even the lightest of vibrations …

Pond skaters are extraordinary insects with hydrophobic legs enabling them to stride across water surfaces, exploiting surface tension to hunt prey. Let's understand the evolutionary journey and classification of these remarkable predators.

May 16, 2020 · Water Striders and Pond Skaters (Family Gerridae) range in size from 1.6mm to 36mm in length (the 36mm Gigantometra spp. are the largest of the water surface bugs). There are 500 species of Gerridae in the world and they include the truly oceanic Halobates sp.

Water striders, often seen running or skating in groups over the surface of a pond or stream, are slender, dark coloured, and generally more than 5 mm (0.2 inch) long.