Water Strider

colour photo of a small water insect with long legs

Water Strider

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Hemiptera

Family: Gerridae

Water Striders can be recognized by their ability to skate on top of water, using their long and skinny legs to distribute their weight across the water surface.  They can be found in ponds, vernal pools, and marshes with calm or slow-moving water. Water Striders use their short front legs to catch and hold onto their insect prey.