Common Pond Skater Nymph
Gerris lacustris (nymph)
Young common pond skater nymphs live on the surface of ponds, ditches, and slow streams, staying close to sheltered margins. They feed on tiny insects and other small animals trapped on the water film, detecting prey by ripples through their legs. Unlike the adult, the nymph has no functional wings and grows by several moults. Its water-repellent legs spread its weight so widely that it can stand and run on the surface without breaking through.
- Type
- Water
- Conservation status
- NE
Growth chain
- Common Pond Skater Nymph
- Common Pond Skater