THE WATER ST RIDERS 



(Family Hydrobatida. ) 



In this group belong most of the curious, slender, long- 

 legged creatures known as water striders, which dart about on 

 the surface of the water with such rapidity that it is very difficult 

 to capture them. It is a large group and contains many different 

 forms which are included in several subfamilies. They are 



Fig. 174. Hygrotrechus remigis Say. (After Lugger,) 



found upon salt as well as upon fresh water. They have prom- 

 inent eyes, a stout beak, long antennae, and a usually tapering 

 abdomen. Two different forms of the adult occur with most 

 species, the one winged and the other wingless. The Oceanic 

 forms are most abundant in the Sargasso Sea, resting upon and 

 breeding among the great mass of accumulated seaweed. When 

 storms break up this great island of vegetation portions of it are 

 carried far and wide, and some of the Oceanic water bugs are 

 therefore brought to our shores. 



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