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Common Name:  Water Striders

Description:  Water striders have adapted well to live on the water surface. Their long legs are supported by the surface of the water as they feed on fallen victims. Water striders must hold their composure, if their tarsus gets wet, then they are likely to sink. Unique to this family is an anteapical claw that curves at the end.

Spot ID Key Characters:

  1. Long, slender legs
  2. Tarsal claws anteapical (located before tip of leg)

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Order:  Hemiptera, suborder Heteroptera

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