Have you ever imagined what it would be like to live buried in the sand of the Namib desert, one of Earth’s hottest and driest environments?
The Namib Desert beetle lives in the rain-starved Namib desert in Southern Africa. This region gets about half an inch of rainfall per year. The desert geology consists of sand seas and some of the highest sand dunes in the world. During summer months, temperatures swing from 113°F to below freezing at night.
You might ask, why am I so curious about a penny-sized insect that thrives in some of the most inhospitable conditions in what might be the oldest desert on the planet? (I know. This is already quite a list of superlatives.) This tiny long-legged being has much to teach us about resilience, including living with extreme heat and drought conditions. The European Space Agency is researching it to assist people in adjusting to life on other planets with adaptive technologies.
Harvesting water from early morning fog
The Namib is the only coastal desert in the world that includes vast dunes regularly enveloped by fog. About once a month, the fog drifts in over the desert and provides the primary source of water for the beetle.
A few hours before the fog rolls in, the beetle climbs to the crest of a sand dune to do some “fog basking.” On spindly legs, it turns to the wind from the sea and raises its rear end at a 45° angle. Droplets accumulate on its wings. The beetle harvests water from the damp breeze while holding a downward dog pose for 3-4 hours.
Every drop counts
To survive, the fogstand beetle developed a distinct anatomical trait for water collection on its bumpy back. When fog blows horizontally across the surface of ts shell, tiny dew droplets stick to water-loving bumps. Droplets flatten on the surface of the bumps that provide a surface for other droplets to attach.
Waxy water-repelling troughs surround the bumps. As the droplets grow, they fall from the bumps into the grooves. The fresh water rolls down into the beetle’s mouth. It’s a remarkable demonstration of a unique moisture-collection strategy and the wisdom of nature.
Water scarcity
It is crucial to acknowledge that 3 billion individuals, representing one in two people on Earth, face water scarcity. The fog basking beetle can be a source of inspiration for innovative water harvesting technologies. Several companies have replicated their dew-collection methods on bottles that incorporate bumps and grooves in their surface design. Another has developed an irrigation system that pumps water to plants.
The beetle is also a source of bioinspiration for planetary exploration. The mechanical structure and thermal properties of the insect can provide insights into surviving the many extreme environments in space.
Stay cool
I’ll conclude with one additional Namib beetle fact. Remarkably, it is the fastest beetle on the planet. During the day, it stays cool by running and creating its own wind.
May you have wind in your sails in the coming days….