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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Fact of the Day for May 5, 1999
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What kind of insect walks on the ocean?
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The only insects known to live directly on the surface of the open
ocean are the sea skaters (genus Halobates), close relatives of the
water striders that walk on the surfaces of ponds and streams.
Like the water striders, sea skaters have waxy hairs on their feet
that repel water, allowing them to stand on the surface tension. They
are delicate insects with long legs and highly coordinated reflexes,
enabling them to move around with great precision on the surface of
the waves.
Sea skaters are predators, able to sense the presence of small
swimming creatures just under the surface and spear them with their
sharp mouthparts. They also eat insects that fall onto the water
surface. Of course, they are themselves prey to any fish that is fast
enough to snatch them.
Water striders and sea skaters are "true bugs" in the family Gerridae:
http://www.insect-world.com/main/gerromorpha.html
http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/explore/Taxa/Heteroptera/Gerridae/FamilyGerridaePage.htm
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