Can Flies Walk on Water?
WouterSome insects have superpowers that make it possible for them to walk on water. They can lift thousands of times their own weight, and several marine insects walk on the water’s surface. It’s not a mystery that many insects have such abilities; if you’ve ever been near water, you’ve probably seen dozens of tiny critters skimming the surface.
Fly walking on water is possible because of the adhesive between their tarsal pads and the surface tension of water. This makes it possible for the insect to scale walls and water surfaces. However, human beings are too big to walk on water, due to the forces of gravity. Even small animals such as fish can walk on water because of the opposing surface tension component of water.
However, despite this fact, there are no scientific studies proving that insects can walk on water. Some insects, such as mosquitoes and spiders, do not use their wings to walk on water. However, their ability to walk on water makes them a valuable resource in the field of science. Scientists study the behavior of these insects to improve the design of robots, non-stick coatings, boats, and more.
Insects that walk on water include water striders, fishing spiders, and raft spiders. These insects all use surface tension to remain afloat and capture prey.
