The eggs are cemented or glued by the female to the surface of floating plants. The eggs are placed just below the surface of the water in parallel rows. The eggs are long and shaped like cylinders. Nymphs that look like adult striders hatch out in a few days. Nymphs mature into adults in about 5 weeks.
Adults live for several months.
During the winter, adult water striders hide under mudbanks, under stones, in tangled elodea plants, or under moist fallen leaves on nearby shores. If the pond dries up for a short time, they hide under damp mud or stones. Many adult water striders have wings and can fly to another pond or stream. Some water strider eggs or nymphs are carried in the feathers or on the feet of birds to distant ponds. Few ponds or slow streams are without this interesting insect.