Examples of insects that walk on water include dark fishing spiders, great raft spiders, long-legged flies, mosquitoes, and nursery web spiders.
Water striders are one of the most common types of insects that can be found walking on water. They are also one of the largest, with some species reaching over an inch in length. Water striders have long legs that are adapted for paddling and a slim body that helps them to glide across the surface of the water.
They are also very light, weighing less than half a gram. This allows them to walk on even the smallest puddles without sinking. In addition to their physical adaptations, water striders also produce a special type of oil that helps to repel water. This oil coats their legs and body, making it possible for them to walk on even the wettest surfaces.
Examples of Insects that Walk on Water
1. Dark Fishing Spider
| Scientific Name | Dolomedes tenebrosus |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | southern Canada south to Florida and west to Texas and the Dakotas |
The dark fishing spider is a large, brown spider that is commonly found near water. It gets its name from its habit of preying on fish, which it does by waiting for them to come to the surface and then grabbing them with its powerful jaws.
The dark fishing spider is also known for being able to walk on water. Like the water strider, it has a slim body and long legs that are coated in a special type of oil. This oil allows the spider to trap air bubbles beneath its body, which provides buoyancy and keeps it from sinking.
2. Great Raft Spider
| Scientific Name | Dolomedes plantarius |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | found throughout Europe and Russia, in Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia |
The great raft spider is one of the largest arachnids in the world, with some specimens reaching over 4 inches in length. They are also one of the most widespread, being found on every continent except for Antarctica.
Great raft spiders get their name from their habit of living in large colonies on floating mats of vegetation. These mats can be as large as a hectare and can support up to 10,000 spiders.
Great raft spiders are very good swimmers and use their long legs to paddle through the water. They are also able to dive and can stay underwater for over 10 minutes.
3. Long-Legged Fly
| Scientific Name | Dolichopodidae |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | in a wide range of habitats, preferably in wet areas such as near water margins and in meadows, woodlands, orchards, vineyards, and gardens |
Long-legged flies are another type of insect that is often seen walking on water. These flies have long, thin legs that are covered in tiny hairs. These hairs help to trap air bubbles, which provides buoyancy and keeps the fly from sinking.
In addition, the long legs of the fly act like oars, helping it to paddle across the surface of the water. Like water striders, long-legged flies are also very light, weighing less than half a gram. This allows them to walk on even the smallest puddles without sinking.
4. Mosquitoes
| Scientific Name | Culicidae |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | marshes, ponds, lakes, children’s pools, the inside of tires, birdbaths, and other containers with shallow water |
Water striders are not the only insects that can be found walking on water. Mosquitoes are also able to walk on water, although they are not nearly as common as water striders.
Mosquitoes have a thin and light body that allows them to float on the surface of the water. They also have long legs that help them to paddle through the water. In addition, mosquitoes produce a special type of oil that helps to repel water. This oil coats their legs and body, making it possible for them to walk on even the wettest surfaces.
5. Nursery Web Spider
| Scientific Name | Pisauridae |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | in tall grass, along wooded edges, and in shrubs (and sometimes houses) from the Atlantic into the Great Plains |
Nursery spiders are one of the most common types of spiders that can be found in gardens and yards. They get their name from the fact that they often build their webs in children’s play areas, such as near swings or sandboxes. Nursery spiders are relatively small, with most species measuring less than half an inch in length.
6. Raft Spider
| Scientific Name | Dolomedes fimbriatus |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | around the edge of ponds and ditches, and on wet heaths and bogs |
The raft spider or water spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) is a species of ctenid found in Europe and North America. It is the largest European arachnid, with a leg span of up to 12 cm (4.7 in).
The raft spider is a semi-aquatic species, spending much of its time on or near the water surface. It is a good swimmer and diver and has been known to walk along the bottom of ponds. The raft spider is also capable of running across the surface of the water for short distances.
7. Six-Spotted Fishing Spider
| Scientific Name | Dolomedes triton |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | wetland habitats throughout North America |
The six-spotted fishing spider is a species of spider that is commonly found near water. These spiders are large, with some adults reaching over an inch in length.
They are brown or black in color and have six white spots on their abdomen. Fishing spiders get their name from their ability to catch small fish and other aquatic prey. They are also known to eat frogs, tadpoles, and small fish.
8. Water Spiders
| Scientific Name | Cybaeidae |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | ponds, slow-moving streams, and other shallow bodies of fresh water, particularly where aquatic vegetation is abundant |
Water spiders are very common insects that can often be seen walking on water. They have long legs that help them paddle across the surface of the water, and a slim body that allows them to glide easily.
Water spiders are also very light, weighing less than half a gram. This helps them to walk on even the smallest puddles without sinking.
9. Water Striders
| Scientific Name | Gerridae |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | nearly any aquatic habitat, including ponds, lakes, swamps, ditches, creeks, streams, and rivers |
Water striders are one of the most common types of insects that can be found walking on water. They are also one of the largest, with some species reaching over an inch in length. Water striders have long legs that are adapted for paddling and a slim body that helps them to glide across the surface of the water.
They are also very light, weighing less than half a gram. This allows them to walk on even the smallest puddles without sinking.
Conclusion
Some of the insects that can walk on water include water striders, fishing spiders, and raft spiders. Each of these insects has different methods of walking on water, but they all use surface tension to stay afloat. Insects that walk on water are often predators, using the water to help them capture their prey. Some insects, like water striders, can even walk across the surface of ponds and lakes without breaking the surface tension.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.