Traits: Insect with body and long legs covered with stiff, waterproof hair that allows the insect to "skate" across the water surface

Habitat: Ponds and streams

Foods: Small living or dead insects on the water surface

Eaten by: Fish, water birds, water shrews

Do You Know? A water strider will sink and drown if the hairs on its legs become wet and it cannot reach a place to dry out.