Water Strider (Hemiptera: Gerridae) Striding

Water striders utilize both their own physical attributes and the physical properties of water to maneuver across the water's surface. Water molecules are polar and attract one another, forming hydrogen bonds to create surface tension. The water strider's small size allows it to take advantage of the cohesive surface. The insect is also anatomically equipped with layers of tiny hairs called microsetae on each of its legs. These hairs create grooves that trap oxygen and allow the strider to float on the surface. As a result, the water strider is buoyant enough to hold 15 times its own body weight. Water striders propel themselves forward by rowing with their middle legs to create hemispherical vortices. These whirling motions of fluid enable the insect to travel up to 100 times their body length per second. This video was produced by Raley White and Laura Summers, under the direction of Dr. Timothy Menzel, for the Invertebrate Behavior Project at Piedmont College.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• water strider
• Gerridae
• Hemiptera
• insects