On a recent visit to Virginia Water, we came across a veritable army of pond skaters (also written as pondskaters). I thought they must have just hatched (and, indeed, that may be the case), but they are, apparently, often seen in large groups.
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| Photo 1: Pond Skaters, Virginia Water (July 2024) |
They can walk/skate across the water because of the water-repellant hairs on their feet which also pick up any vibrations from fallen prey. Pond skaters use the surface tension of water to keep themselves on top of the water surface. Surface tension is a skin-like layer of water molecules that are strongly bonded to each other. The weight of the pond skater is insufficient to overcome the cohesive forces of these surface water molecules.
Video 1: Pond Skaters, Virginia Water (July 2024)
Pond skaters (as we know them) are called many things, many of them descriptive of their mobility action: water striders, water skeeters, water scooters, water skippers, water gliders, water skimmers, water bugs and puddle flies. You can read more about pond skaters here, here, and here.
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