WATER-STRIDERS 



belong to what entomologists call the "social insects," 

 such as ants, bees, wasps, and termites, they are socia- 

 ble chaps and like to keep in companies. They are 

 resting quietly on the surface-film, their six legs out- 

 stretched so that a line drawn through the tips would 

 form an irregular oval. The front legs are short and 

 stout, and are often carried bent almost at a right 

 angle. The second and third pairs are long and slen- 

 der, and not thickly clothed with hair. The body of 

 the species (Hygrotrechus remigis) most common in our 

 parts (eastern Pennsylvania) is in color a yellowish 

 brown above, with a blackish rectangular mark upon 

 the thorax and a double row of small white spots along 

 the abdomen that look like little buttons. On the 

 sides and beneath, the abdomen is covered with short, 

 silvery pubescence which gives the insect a bright ap- 

 pearance, and, as some authors assert, helps to support 

 the body upon the water. This, however, is contrary 

 to my own observation, for I have never seen a water- 

 strider touching its body to the water, its sole support 

 being the legs. 



This is difficult to note in natural site. But we can 

 easily create an artificial pond and study the point at 

 leisure. The cook — if she be good-natured — will supply 

 a big bread-pan, and this, partly filled with fresh water, 

 with a chunk of grassy sod from the brook-side placed 

 in the middle, will give the natiu^al conditions required. 

 Armed with a wire net, or, in lieu thereof, with a small- 

 meshed hand-strainer from the kitchen, several water- 

 striders may be captured and transferred to your home- 

 made pond. 



Now, if you have keen eyes, or, if not, with a hand 

 magnifier, note the position of the legs. The last two 



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