How do water striders move?
How do water striders perform 'skating', 'rowing' and 'darting'?
Water striders have specially featured legs. They not only repel
water but also configured to allow efficient and rapid movement across the
surface.
Like all other insects, they also have three pairs of long
legs.
Image by|Sweetaholic |
The front legs are much shorter, and allow the water strider
to quickly grab prey on the surface.
The middle legs act as paddles. The hind legs are the longest
and provide additional power, and also enable the strider to steer and brake.
Image by|Ddzphoto |
The long legs spread the insect body weight evenly on the
water surface.
They move by skating in a slow, graceful glide or darting in
a quick, spurting motion.
Skating is done when moving upstream against a current or
getting to food and other striders. Gliding is done by ‘rowing’ with the middle
legs.
Image by|analogicus |
Water striders can dart a distance of 100 body lengths in a
second. Darting is done whenever quick
movement is needed, like to escape danger, pursue prey, or grab females.
Related articles:
How biosynthetic spider silk are made?
How water striders walk on water?
Comments
Post a Comment