Skeeter

Skeeters are giant 4-legged bugs that float on top of the water that were first introduced in Super Mario 64. They have appeared in several of Mario's 3-D adventures. Skeeters can also walk on land as well as skate on water.

Super Mario 64
In Super Mario 64 they are seen on the painting of Wet-Dry World and also are enemies floating aimlessly on the water in Wet-Dry World and Dire Dire Docks. They look like big blue spiders that plate webbings on their feet and an antennae on its back. They could be simply killed by jumping on them or by staying on a platform and punching them, since Mario can´t punch in the water. If killed, they release three Coins. In Wet-Dry World, they can be lowered onto a platform. When they see Mario, they get mad for him taking them off the water, and home in on him. In Super Mario 64 DS, Skeeters were found in the same places as in Super Mario 64, but are blue with yellow-tipped legs, the angler on their head is red instead of orange, and they have black eyes here. Three Coins are again released for their death. Again, they only home in on the heroes if they were lowered onto land.

Super Mario Sunshine
Skeeters reappeared in Super Mario Sunshine, but they are referred to as Pondskaters in this game. They follow a similar design to their Super Mario 64 cousins with sharp tipped legs and are found in Bianco Hills. When jumped on, Mario propelled upward to a height rivaling the Rocket Nozzle. Also, they are resistant to F.L.U.D.D., as spraying them only made them stop moving for a very short while. The only way to defeat them was to bring a Yoshi onto a lilypad and eat them.

New Super Mario Bros.
Skeeters made another reappearance in New Super Mario Bros., but they received an another overhaul in appearance; they are now fat and red, instead of gangly-legged and blue. They appeared in two levels, 3-A and 8-2. They skated aimlessly across the water, and drop Skull Bombs, which actually do not explode unless they hit something, The explosion could also destroy blocks. The Skull Bombs are in fact helpful, as they gave access to two Star Coins (one normally, and one mini pipe, which held one). They and their Skull Bombs only release Coins if hit with a fireball from a Fire Flower.

Super Mario Galaxy 2
In Super Mario Galaxy 2, Skeeters re-appear with a flat purple body and are found in the Cosmic Cove Galaxy. They always home in on Mario, and can be stomped for a Coin or hit with a Spin to release three Star Bits. They also appear in Starshine Beach Galaxy and Throwback Galaxy. In this game, if they hit Mario, he will be knocked down and stunned for a few seconds.

Mario Party 3
Skeeters can be seen in Mario Party 3 in a background of a level. They do not even move and are not important.

Trivia

 * Skeeters are based off a real-world insect known as the water strider.
 * In the animated series Godzilla: The Series there is a spider called Skeetera. Similar to how the Skeeter is based off a spider.