Do Pond Skaters Walk?

Water striders are small insects that are adapted for life on top of still water, using surface tension to their advantage so they can “walk on water.” Water acts different at the surface. Water molecules are attracted to each other and like to stay together, especially on the surface where there is only air above.

How does a pond skaters walk on water?

The insects use the middle of their three pairs of legs to row across the water, creating vortices with the tiny hairs that cover their legs, similar to the swirling vortices created just beneath the surface by am oar when it slices the water that twist away and propel the boat forward.

How many legs do pond skaters have?

The pond skater has six legs, each pair specially adapted for a specific purpose.