Chris B.
Water striders, which are also commonly known as water bugs, water skeeters, water skippers, or pond skaters, belong to the Gerridae family of insects. Their wide stance allows them to distribute their weight over a large area when compared to their size. Also, their legs are covered with tiny microscopic hairs which trap air underneath and make the bugs more buoyant. This enables them to support 15 times their own upon the tension of the water. One of the water striders favorite foods is mosquito larvae, so the help keep mosquito populations in check. With over 1700 species, you may have some at your local pond.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerridae
Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to skip on water?