The ripples from the striders on the water’s surface
People often overlook the small things in life and especially if it is something society tends to look down upon, such as insects. Although, the water strider could be considered one of the most fascinating creatures for their ability to walk on water, an ability humans have marveled about for centuries. Their unique ability stems from the hair on their thin legs which helps them stick to the top of the water without breaking the surface tension. With their small size and expertly adapted coloration, it may take a few moments for the human eye to adjust to seeing these 6 legged insects. The ripples they create reverberate across the calm waters they call home and can help clue in the unobserving eyes.
Much like others, I have been amazed by their ability since I was a little kid splashing around in the creek investigating everything that moved. However, I have never taken the time to research them in-depth, so I happily leaped at the opportunity to observe them further in the still creekbed that is directly in front of my sit spot. Finding out information about water striders, part of the Gerridae family, as a whole was a relatively simple task but when it came down to individual species, it became a much bigger to do.
2 striders sharing a leaf together
It is hard to fathom living your life within the same span of 15 feet or so, but every day these water striders go about their hunt for food, usually in the form of other small insects that fell into the water. As I observed these creatures, I noticed how they each stayed in their respective area, almost like it was their own territory. Although, as the sunlight wained across the top of the water, the water striders all gathered around the warmth of the light until it was completely engulfed by the shadows in which they retreated to rest on nearby leaves together.
The strider I had been observing
Water striders are dictated by their natural resources, but they also have to keep in mind their above surroundings to avoid birds having them for a nice snack. While I was observing the water striders, I had decided to inquire into their sensitivity to the things above them. At one point, I held my hand and then a leaf about a foot above the water strider in which both times it bounced away rather quickly, regardless of the speed that I moved over them. Similarly, I tested if this had the same effect as when the leaf was placed a foot ahead of them wherein they were unbothered by this, but rather the strider held onto the leaf until it was carried by the current past their area. On the other hand, fish find the striders distasteful so they are not as concerned about threats from below despite their dancing shadows on the bottom of the creek.
My very rough sketch of the strider
The younger striders reminded me of little kids running around on the playground together as they hopped around endlessly with seemingly no limitations from energy. Although, they rarely strayed into the center of the creek away from the safety of the rocks. With their constant motions, it was difficult to observe them, but they look almost identical to their parents’ form just smaller in diameter.
References Cited:
Water Striders. (n.d.). Retrieved October 7, 2020, from https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/water-striders
Water Striders. (n.d.). Retrieved October 7, 2020, from https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Water-Striders