If you have lived in the eastern or mid western United States and spent very much time outside near the water you have probably seen these common water striders (Aquarius remigis). You may also know them as water boatmen or just water striders or striders. You see them regularly skimming along the tops of ponds, lakes, swimming pools, or any other body of still or slow moving water. They do this to look for aquatic insects, their larvae, or insects that have drowned in the water. These items, including mosquito larvae, which make up a majority of their diets. They will also feed on the floating remains of larger deceased animals and other bits of floating detritus. They grasp or capture their meal with their front two legs and use the remaining four to stay afloat and navigate on the water. They can stay on the water’s surface thanks to many small hairs on the ends of the last four legs. The hairs act to repel water and to create small pockets of air that allow the insects to literally walk (and run) on the water. Water boatmen are harmless to people or pets and they eat lots of mosquito larvae. They also help to keep their watery habitat cleaner by removing carrion and detritus, making them really good insects to have around. This one was hunting in a quiet area of the pond at Cedar Lake Botanical Garden. It was one of the many beautiful and interesting insects that you can find there.