They possess retractable wetting

claws that attract and hold the

waters surface, allowing them to
pull it upwards and out of shape.
Densely

clothed
unwettable hairs.

in

short

The uplifted bit of water under the

insects foot then becomes an area

of particularly high tension. The
two areas of high tension attract
each other to lower the overall
tension on the surface. This action
pulls the insect to the top of the
surface.