Pond skater

Today's the day ....................... for surface tension

The garden pond is full of life at the moment including lots of the above strange little creatures.

They are about 2cm in length and are to be found 'skating' around on the surface of the water in ponds, lakes, ditches and slow-flowing rivers.  They feed on smaller insects which they stab with their sharp mouthparts or 'beaks'. The common pond skater emerges from hibernation in April and lays its eggs. Hatching soon after, the nymphs go through a number of moults.

Common pond skaters have water-repellent hairs on the bottom of their feet, enabling them to walk on the surface film of the water. They hunt by detecting vibrations in this film ......................