water strider aka water spiders.

[codykrr]

hey guys i just got back from he park, andnoticed there was an unusual amountof water striders out already. i thought it was still to cold for them to be out. so the question is do they just go dormants for the winter or do they just hatch out that rapidly. because today was 60 degees here and yesterday was like 40 i found this just a very odd occurance.

 

[GiantVinegaroon]

i believe it's a combination of overwintering and hatching. i saw two massive striders in 40 degree weather today

 

[codykrr]

haha...glad im not the only one. well anyway i went back there today and there was even more i think its the confusing weather we have hear(snowing one day 80 the next) it was about 70 degrees here today and wow there was tons of these lil things. im going to try and get a picture tomorrow if its nice again..there hundreds of them...almost a swarm

 

[dtknow]

They make great captives and breed in captivity also. Keep some in water feed them insects...give them some plants or an area to haul out.

 

[burmish101]

I think I know what you guys are talking about, the 4 legged things I see on a pond in the summer. Is it a real spider or another order of arachnid? If I knew those things were carnivores I would of been keeping some by now lol.

 

[GiantVinegaroon]

I think I know what you guys are talking about, the 4 legged things I see on a pond in the summer. Is it a real spider or another order of arachnid? If I knew those things were carnivores I would of been keeping some by now lol.

They are Hemiptera.....meaning they are true bugs. Their front pair of legs is shorter than the other two pairs.