Water Strider

• Alabama is home to water striders, which are insects that are considered predatory and resemble large mosquitoes. Using surface tension, water striders glide across calm water bodies such as ponds, lakes, marshes and quiet streams searching for dead and living insects to eat on the water's surface. Water striders often feast on mosquito larvae, but also eat insects such as butterflies or worms that land on the water's surface.
  
  

Dragonfly

• Dragonflies, which are part of the insect group Paleoptera, are found near water bodies in Alabama. Dragonflies mostly eat insects, but younger dragonflies, also known as naiads, eat aquatic life such as tadpoles and small fish. Dragonflies usually stay close to water since they require the liquid in which to lay their eggs, while naiads often live in water. Like dragonflies, mayflies, which are also party of the Paleoptera insect group, also require water for their eggs, and are so pollution-sensitive to the water that they can be useful in determining water quality, according to the Encyclopedia of Alabama.
  
  

Stonefly

• Stoneflies are a soft-bodied insect with wings. This bug is usually most commonly seen in the spring and summer. According to the U.S. Geological Society, stoneflies are commonly found in the northern part of Alabama, near running or lakes, and like mayflies are a good indicator of water quality. Stoneflies lay eggs in water, and when young stoneflies hatch, they feed on plants and insects in the water. Female stoneflies can lay as many as 6,000 eggs in water. During mating season, stoneflies of both sexes can be heard drumming on the ground with their bodies.
  
  

Mosquito

• Mosquitoes can be found in many areas of the United States, but are especially prevalent in Alabama during humid summers. Mosquitoes are typically found near still water bodies, such as ponds, lakes and puddles where the insect lays its eggs, but mosquitoes also can be found near moist soil or leaf litter, according the Encyclopedia of Alabama. Mosquitoes are different than most insects in that their hind legs are small, allowing for better stabilization while flying. The insect's feeding habits vary between different species, but mosquitoes generally feed on blood, larvae and decaying matter.