Water Strider
Scientific Name: Limnogonus luctuosus
Size: Total Length 11 mm
What does it look like?
The Water Strider has a dark brown body with pale stripes, pale legs, rear two pairs of legs very long and slender. Adults have winged and wingless forms.
Where is it found?
North-eastern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia, Polynesia.
What are its habitats & habits?
The Water Strider occurs in freshwater, from lakes and ponds to streams and hot springs. The modified rear legs are used to walk on water using surface tension. It is a predator, feeding on a range of small arthropods.
This species features in my book A Naturalist’s Guide to the Insects of Australia
