Water skater can run on water surface . Why and how?
By curious888
@curious888 (1212)
Malaysia
June 14, 2008 1:38am CST
In the morning, I noticed some insects, ( probably water skaters ) walked and sometimes ran on the surface of pond water. Why and how they can do that? Any other insects can walk on water surface?
4 responses
@pzh1138 (77)
•
5 Jul 08
These predatory insects rely on surface tension to walk on top pf water. They can stand effortlessly on water due to their non-wetting legs.The resistance of the legs is due to the "special hierarchical structure of the legs , which are covered by large numbers of oriented tiny hairs with fine nanogrooves.
@Mainframeguy (200)
•
5 Jul 08
it is because of the miniscus layer.... the one tat dips up at the sides - they are small scale enough to make use of that.
By the way =- people can walk un custard also - it is a rare liquid that has the property of staying liquid when you poke it, but hard if you press it.... so next time you can make a bath or pool of custard you can amaze your friends like Jesus did!
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
14 Jun 08
I have seen those types of bugs do that and I often wandered how they were able to do that also without sinking under the water. I think alot of them have small wings. I have seen some mosquitos do that too. It has to be that they have wings to keep them above the surface of the water when they go across it.
