Final answer:
Cohesion, the attraction between water molecules, creates surface tension that allows aquatic insects to walk on water.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cohesion, the attraction between water molecules, is the characteristic that directly contributes to the remarkable 'water walking' success of aquatic insects. Cohesion is responsible for the surface tension of water, which allows insects to stay above the water and not sink. The force the insects exert downward is less than the forces among the water molecules on the surface, preventing them from penetrating the water's surface.