Water Striders and Insect Communication | What’s Bugging You?

Entomologist Dr. Art Evans and VPM radio producer Steve Clark discuss water striders and explore the science behind their ability to “walk on water.”

Walk along the edge of any quiet body of water and you are bound to see water striders. Also known as pond skaters, pond skimmers, and wherryman, these true bugs are best known for their ability to glide, hop or jump across the water’s surface. Water striders accomplish this feat by having relatively slender bodies, elongated legs, and small, hydrophobic hair-like structures called microsetae that all help them to take advantage of the membrane-like quality of the water’s surface tension. The dense, hydrophobic microsetae under their bodies and feet keep them dry and prevent them from sinking.