Pond Olive Mayfly vs Water Strider
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Pond Olive Mayfly | Water Strider |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cloeon dipterum | Gerris lacustris |
| Order | Ephemeroptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Baetidae | Gerridae |
| Size | 6-9 mm | 8-10 mm |
| Habitat | Gardens | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Pond Olive Mayfly
One of the few mayflies that breeds in still water including garden ponds and rain barrels. Unusually for a mayfly, females are ovoviviparous.
Did You Know?
This is one of the only mayflies that gives birth to live nymphs rather than laying eggs, a unique trait in the order.
Water Strider
Walks on water using hydrophobic leg hairs that trap air. Each leg has thousands of microscopic grooved hairs. Can detect prey vibrations on the water surface from centimeters away.
Did You Know?
Water striders have over 1,000 microscopic hairs per mm on their legs — each hair has nano-grooves that trap air, making their feet essentially unwettable.