This Is Why Water Striders Make Terrible Lifeguards | Deep Look

to us water Striders are almost magical I mean come on they're literally walking on water but come down to their level and it's a bit more sinister these delicate little bugs have figured out how to master the elements and to

Exploit those who can't so how do water Striders float where others sink the answer is those crazy long legs water is pretty sticky stuff it likes to hold on to itself it sticks together especially well right at the surface if you're

Small it can actually hold you up as long as you don't break through that surface tension it seems like the water Striders legs would just sink right in but they don't they make dimples on the surface

That's because their legs are covered in tiny hairs called micro-ct that repel water the Striders entire body is covered in them those hairs trap a layer of air that keeps the water from sticking to its body the water Striders

Simply can't get wet that's how they can sit on top of the water without breaking through plus they're pretty light and they spread out their weight with their front and back legs they use their middle pair of legs to maneuver by

Pressing down and back against those dimples just like row in a boat they can even catch some air most of their fellow insects aren't quite as graceful like this caddisfly struggle as it may it's stuck half-drowned exactly what the

Water Strider has been waiting for it probes for a weak spot and pierces through spitting digestive enzymes in that dissolve its victim from the inside then the Striders take their time sucking out the innards leaving the

Catice fly a dried-out husk the stream delivers an endless buffet of new victims because for most that razor thin line between water and air is a treacherous place but water Striders know keep your feet

Dry and you'll always have the upper hand hey there it's Lauren I know you see that subscribe button there here's what it'll get you new deep look episodes every two weeks keep up

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