The underside of the body is covered with water-repellent hair. It has a long, dark, narrow body. Some water striders have wings, others do not. The long hind legs steer them and act as brakes. The short front legs are used to catch prey.
Water striders are very sensitive to motion and vibrations on the water's surface.
It uses this ability in order to locate prey. It pushes its mouth into its prey and sucks the insect dry. Water striders do not bite people. Predators of the water strider, like birds and fish, take advantage of the fact that water striders cannot detect motion above or below the water's surface. Without our visitors' support, Enchanted Learning would soon be off-line.