Bug+18

**Water Strider**
A great deal of mystery still exists surrounding the origins of the water strider. Still more questions arise when one ponders the very existence of the water strider. Some say the water strider is a myth, like the Yeti or Loch Ness. Others say they have photographic evidence of this mysterious creature. Only a handful of eyewitnesses have survived alleged encounters with the Water Strider. 6 feet high and aimlessly drifting on the nations waterways... beware.
 * **Name:** || Water Strider ||
 * **AKA:** || Hairy, Scooter ||
 * **Scientific Name:** || //Gerris gibbiffer// ||
 * **Description:** || 1/4 - 1/2 inch; long with narrow body; body covered with hairs and dark brown or black in color. Front legs are short to capture food; mid and back legs are long for locomotion on the surface of water. The leg tarsi are covered with fine hairs (airlike setae) that are difficult to wet. Thus the surface tension is very great between the ends of the legs and the water, enabling the insect to "walk on water". Due to this surface tension the striders can be seen making dimples or impressions with the ends of their legs on the water surface. If the hairs become wet due to oil or detergent on the water surface, surface tension is broken and the water strider will sink. Part of adulthood can be spent in a winged stage, enabling migration. ||
 * **Diet:** || Other small insects that fall onto the surface of the water. ||
 * **Habitat:** || On quiet water in small coves or protected ponds or lakes. They can burrow into the mud when their habitat dries up, becoming dormant until water is replenished. ||
 * **Wanted For:** || Skating on the water. These insects are neat to watch because they can move so quickly on the water. Watch for them in ponds or quiet water ways, especially in the mid-western United States. ||
 * **Last Known Location:** || On the surface of ponds, lakes and streams where they compete with fish for dinner They have to keep moving so they don't become dinner for the fish themselves. ||