The namib desert beetle is a unique beetle, which lives in the driest regions of the biome. Apr 25, 2017 the namib desert is a unique desert that extends to reach along the coastlines of namibia. Jun 14, 2006 the researchers got their inspiration after reading a 2001 article in nature describing the namib desert beetle s moisturecollection strategy. This snakes eyes are situated on top of its head, which means it can bury totally into the sand but still be able to see you. They reported remarkable behavior in namib desert tenebrionid beetles by means of which the beetles accessed fog water directly, and they remain icons of research on animal biology related. Male tenebrionid beetles from the namib desert are captured by predators more frequently than females. Indeed, the namib desert beetle is known to survive by collecting water from fog thanks to its unique back structure. In the early mornings, the beetle stands on a small ridge of sand and faces the breeze. In the namib desert we have another exception to the rule, the side winder or peringueys adder bitis peringueyi. Pdf in the namib desert fog represents an alternative water source. Abstractan intensive observation period was conducted in september 2017 in the central namib, namibia, as part of the project namib fog life cycle analysis nafolica.
Deserts distinction between subtropical and temperate cool or cold winter deserts. Can namib desert beetles help us solve our drought. Its shell has evolved microscopic hydrophillic waterloving bumps that attract fine water droplets in the fog that blows across the desert. Aug 01, 2017 the analysis below focuses on a few animals found in the namib desert. The namib desert in southern africa is believed to be the world oldest desert and one of the most arid areas of our planet, receiving only 1. The water scavenger is a small western hemisphere beetle that has earned its three nicknameswater scavenger, water beetle, and great diving beetle. Namib desert beetles 12 unbelievable beetle species mnn. This is one of the most arid areas of the world, receiving only 1. Scientists had already learned to copy the waterrepellent lotus leaf, and the desert beetle shell seemed like another good candidate for biomimicry.
Three species of coastal namib desert tenebrionid beetles lepidochora build trenches on desert sand dunes. Some of these construct sand trenches or ridges to catch the fog, while onymacris unguicularis and o. Some dig trenches in the sand, while others use their own bodies as fog collectors assuming a characteristic fogbasking stance. The namib desert has a remarkably high variety of darkling beetles tenebrionidae and a handful of them actively exploit fog for water intake 5,6.
Occasional fog is a critical water source utilised by plants and animals in the namib desert. To resolve if these other beetles also fogbask, and if an elytra covered in bumps is a more efficient fog water collector than a smooth one, we examined four namib desert beetles. Its name is derived from the nama language, implying an area where there is nothing. Males exhibit several behaviors that predispose them to an increased risk of mortality from predation. Detritus i have also observe them eating each other and other beetles enemies.
The beetle is able to survive by collecting water on its bumpy back surface from early morning fogs to drink water, the s. When the morning fog rolls in, the stenocara gracilipes species, also known as the namib beetle, collects water droplets on its bumpy back, then lets the moisture roll down into its mouth, allowing it to drink in an area devoid of flowing water. Such a technique of harnessing water would be both environmentally friendly and a revolutionary way of harvesting water particularly in. Desert beetle provides model for fogfree nanocoating, chemistry world news, royal society of chemistry, august 31, 2005. The beetles return along the ridges of the trenches extracting water from them.
Fogbasking behaviour and water collection efficiency in. This beetle is also a stilting species which means, it stand on its head with his back side. Apr 21, 2011 in the arid namib desert on the west coast of africa, one type of beetle has found a distinctive way of surviving. In the namib desert fog represents an alternative water source. Selective deposition of multilayer films onto the hydrophilic patterns introduces different. Jul 16, 2010 in the namib desert fog represents an alternative water source. Introduction water is the most abundant resource in nature.
Some beetles in the namib desert collect drinking water from fogladen wind on their backs 1. Access thousands of highquality, free k12 articles, and create online assignments with them for your students. Beetles offer people lessons in moisture control insects inspire new surfaces that are better at collecting water or resisting ice buildup onymacris laeviceps is a beetle in the namib desert that collects water from fog. This is utilised by darkling beetles tenebrionidae that employ different strategies for obtaining the fog water.
Is it possible to create a selffilling water bottle. The sidewinders diet consists of lizards and namib dune geckos. This is a great way to introduce your young naturelover to new plants and animals without leaving the house. We show here that these large droplets form by virtue of the insects bumpy surface, which consists of. Thus, the portion south of luderitz, namibia was appended to the succulent karoo ecoregion. Desert locations lie between 15o and 30o centered on tropics of cancer and capricorn on west sides of continents. In this harsh conditions the namib desert beetle has evolved to be a skilled fog water collector, so skilled that is now a guide and an inspiration source for many new inventions. The namib desert spans across three countries starting in south africa, majoring in namibia and ending in angola, ranging from 50 to 150 km from the atlantic coast inland, covering an approximate. To the south, the namib borders on the south african karoo semi desert. It has a unique array of flora and fauna, and, despite its barren landscape, is full of biodiversity and other natural surprises for tourists. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. Hamilton iii and others published fog collection by namib desert beetles find, read and cite all the research you. Find out how the resourceful insects use their wing scales to absorb water.
Mimicking the pattern found on the back of the namib desert beetle, the team printed their tailored dopamine solution onto a superhydrophobic surface and achieved a micropatterned surface with a water collection efficiency of 61. Inherently, water is hard to come by in the desert. The beetle teeters on its little legs and faces into the breeze and spreads out its wings, thus collecting droplets. Fogbasking, as it is termed, con sists of the beetles adopting a characteristic. It damages lichen fields because they are very fragile and can sustain damage easily. In attempts to find and monopolize females, males are more active on the surface, move more frequently, and travel farther than females. Hydrophilic patterns on superhydrophobic surfaces were created with water2propanol solutions of a polyelectrolyte to produce surfaces with extreme hydrophobic contrast. Stenocara gracilipes, also known as the fogstand beetle, is a species of beetle that is native to the namib desert of southern africa. Jul 16, 2010 out of the four species of beetle tested in the fog chamber under conditions imitating those in the namib desert during a fog event, only o. Take your time adding color to the detailed picture and dont forget to read the scientific names of both of these species. Native to a very arid yet very foggy region, the beetle is nicknamed the headstander beetle for its habit of tipping its head downward and using its legs and the rest of its body to collect water. The thirsty beetles that capture the fog in the namib desert, slaking thirst is a slow process.
Why does the namib desert tenebrionid onymacris unguicularis. The idea is borrowed from a beetle that lives in the desert and is able to keep itself alive by trapping water on its body, the namib or darkling beetle. To survive in the arid wilderness of southwestern africa, the namib desert beetle. This is utilised by darkling beetles tenebrionidae that employ different. Edney department of life sciences, university of california, riverside received 20 january 1971 introduction a good deal is now known about the climate of various desert habitats in which arthropods may live. Beetles offer people lessons in moisture control science. Darkling beetle species consist of the namib desert beetle and the lepidochora discoidalis, both of which have an adaptation of storing humidity from morning fog and utilizing it during hot temperatures. Namib desert fortune of africa investment in africa. Find highquality namib desert stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. The namib desert beetle originated in the dry desert of southern africa.
This method is onestep, maskfree and versatile, and it allows for the direct patterning of a variety of superhydrophobic surfaces, explains. Improve your students reading comprehension with readworks. Its name is derived from the nama language, implying an. Desert lizards, geckos, snakes, and man interesting facts.
Amazing facts about the 5 desertadapted animals of namibia. The namib desert in southern africa is a hostile place. A major threat to the namib desert is the impact of off road driving. According to the broadest definition, the namib stretches for more than 2,000 kilometres 1,200 mi along the atlantic coasts of angola, namibia, and south africa, extending southward from the carunjamba river in angola, through namibia. This is a great way to introduce your young naturelover to new plants and animals without leaving. It occupies a rocky platform between the atlantic ocean and the escarpment of the interior plateau. The ingenious fog beetle relies on the foggy conditions near the coast where the cold atlantic ocean meets the hot land, to collect drinking water.
The thirsty beetles that capture the fog atlas obscura. Onymacris rugatipennis is one of several diurnal adesmiine tenebrionid beetles living in various habitats near gobabeb in the namib desert, south west africa late in the active part of the female daily cycle and before they dig into the ground, females are often persistently followed by. Trenches are constructed perpendicular to fog winds and concentrate moisture during fogs. Namib tenebrionids in the watertrapping behaviour they display during fogs. The researchers got their inspiration after reading a 2001 article in nature describing the namib desert beetle s moisturecollection strategy. The water content of a population of these beetles increased by. Could this desert beetle help humans harvest water from. Namib desert beetles 12 unbelievable beetle species. Namib desert 4x4 expedition integral crossing by geko expeditions duration. Scientists to study namib desert beetle the namibian. Sep 14, 2015 namib desert beetles live in an area with little ground water, so how is it that they have no trouble finding h2o. Threedimensionally structured flexible fog harvesting. In semiarid, desert regions, particularly in coastal areas where morning fog is abundant and rainfall is scarce, fog harvesting can be a crucial source of water. Pdf fog collection by namib desert beetles researchgate.
Fog catchment sand trenches constructed by tenebrionid. Interesting fact about the namib desert the famous namib desert beetle. Longterm data show behavioural fog collection adaptations. This selffilling water bottle mimics a desert beetle wired. The headstander beetle onymacris unguicularis is a species of fog basking beetle that is native to the namib desert of southern africa. Research open access fogbasking behaviour and water. Why life thrives in the foggy namib desert science in. The name namib is of khoekhoegowab origin and means vast place. Mar 19, 2020 namib, a cool coastal desert extending for 1,200 miles 1,900 km along the atlantic coast of africa from namibe in angola southward across namibia to the olifants river in the western cape province of south africa. Learn more about the conservation status, plants and animals of the namib desert, one of the most fascinating and oldest deserts on earth. Search results environmental information service namibia. In a single year, just more than 40 yr ago, two papers on the fog and fauna of the namib desert featured on the covers of nature and science hamilton and seely 1976, seely and hamilton 1976. The namib desert beetle is one such clever critter. These beetles n 15 positioned themselves on the top of the sand ridge in the chamber and assumed a fogbasking position after 114.
In the arid namib desert on the west coast of africa, one type of beetle has found a distinctive way of surviving. Jun 23, 2006 the namib desert beetle is one such clever critter. The beetle, endemic to africas namib desertwhere there is just 1. We show here that these large droplets form by virtue of. Catching water with imitation beetle bumps research. Fabrication of namib beetle inspired biomimetic amphiphobic. The present study demonstrates a surface structure that mimics the water harvesting wing surface of the namib desert beetle. Hamilton iii and others published fog collection by namib desert beetles find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. They are able to obtain sufficient water by climbing to high peaks of dunes, and facing into the breeze. Found only here and in mali, these gentle desert giants can be found mostly in the rocky mountains, sandy desert, and stony plains of the kunene region. Namib, a cool coastal desert extending for 1,200 miles 1,900 km along the atlantic coast of africa from namibe in angola southward across namibia to the olifants river in the western cape province of south africa.
Stenocara gracilipes is a species of beetle that is native to the namib desert of southern africa. Mora water systems biomimicry the namib desert beetle a. The beetle is able to survive by collecting water on its bumpy back surface from early morning fogs. Characterised by red sand dunes that can reach impressive heights, the namib is considered to be particularly old.
Such a technique of harnessing water would be both environmentally friendly and a revolutionary way of harvesting water particularly in the dry areas where it is scarce. Lichen can not repair itself very easily for example, irrigation is used for agriculture causing a low salt level which does. Oct 09, 2015 in the namib desert we have another exception to the rule, the side winder or peringueys adder bitis peringueyi. Another one of namibias incredible desert adapted animals is the unique and rare desert dwelling elephant. Could this desert beetle help humans harvest water from thin air. The southern portion of whites namib desert unit, although referred to as the southern namib, shares affinities with the succulent karoo. Fog harvesting of the namib desert beetles has inspired many.
Another one of namibias incredible desertadapted animals is the unique and rare desertdwelling elephant. Isolated mountains rise from the desert and sand dunes cover its southern portion. Color the namib desert beetle crawling along the prickly pear cactus plant. Pdf fogbasking behaviour and water collection efficiency in. The beetle teeters on its little legs and faces into the breeze and spreads out its wings, thus collecting droplets of moisture from fog. Fogbasking behaviour and water collection efficiency in namib. Stenocara gracilipes, surviving in harsh environments is largely due to its ability to harvest water from fog. Stretching over 1200mi 2000km, the namib crosses angola, namibia and south africa. Two beetle species from the genus onymacris have been observed to fogbask on the ridges.
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