Jun 2, 2011
Water Striders (Gerris remigis) can show up in the strangest places. These striders found a 2 foot by 3 foot puddle near a water spring at the side of a road here at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center. Also called Pond Skaters, these insects are true bugs in the phylogenetic order Hemiptera. They are common on quiet stream and pond waters from sea level to 8500' elevation. The tarsi (last leg segments) have fine hairs that are hard to wet, supported by surface film, thus allowing the insects to "surface-stride" on top of the water. They are highly predaceous, feeding on a variety of aquatic insects. In response to adverse conditions, some adults can fly to new habitats.
