Common Pond Skater Gerris lacustris (and others)

There are several species of pond skater in the UK that "skate" on the surface of still fresh water, with water-repellent hairs on their feet, legs and body. The Common Pond Skater is some 1-1.5cm long (head/body) and preys on smaller insects, feeling their vibration on the water surface. Adults can fly to new water sources.

Pond skaters have piercing mouthparts, strong front legs to hold prey, long thin middle legs for motion and long thin back legs for stability and rudder control. Two other species in the UK that have dark pronuta like the Common Pond Skater are G. gibbifer and G. odontogaster.

Three other species in the UK that have paler brown and more orange pronuta are G. thoracisus, the most common, G. lateralis, which has white hairs on the underside flanks and G. costai. Those immediately above and some in the second row are likely to be these lighter species.