Water strider

A water strider is an insect adapted to move across the surface of water. Its long, water-repellent legs distribute its weight without breaking the surface film.

Surface tension: The tendency of a liquid surface to resist deformation because of cohesive forces between its molecules. It supports the insect’s weight until a leg pushes hard enough to deform the water surface.
Hemiptera: An order of insects that includes true bugs, aphids, cicadas, and their relatives. Water striders belong to this order of insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Biomimetics: The design of materials, structures, or systems inspired by biological forms and processes. Engineers study water striders for ways to support and propel small devices on water.
Aquarius remigis: A common North American water strider that inhabits streams and other flowing waters. Its presence in moving water shows that striders can exploit more than still ponds.
Superhydrophobicity: The extreme water repellency of a surface, often produced by microscopic texture and low-surface-energy chemistry. Fine hairs and waxy coatings keep water from wetting the strider’s legs.
Gerridae: A family of insects commonly called water striders, adapted to life on the water surface. This is the family containing the familiar pond-dwelling water striders.
Water-walking robot: A robotic device designed to move across a water surface without sinking. Such robots borrow principles from the strider’s leg geometry and surface interactions.
Gerris lacustris: A widespread European water strider found on ponds and other still waters. This familiar pond species exemplifies surface locomotion in calm freshwater.
Capillary wave: A small surface wave whose restoring force is primarily surface tension. The middle legs propel the insect by pushing water backward and producing surface waves.
Insect: A six-legged arthropod whose body is divided into head, thorax, and abdomen. Water striders share the defining body plan of insects.

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