Stenocara gracilipes is a species of beetle that is native to the Namib Desert in southern Africa. This is one of the most arid areas of the world, receiving only 1.4 centimetres (0.55 in) of rain per year. The beetle is able to survive by collecting water on its bumpy back surface from early morning fogs.
Wikispecies has information related to Stenocara gracilipes.
To drink water, the S. gracilipes stands on a small ridge of sand using its long, spindly legs. Facing into the breeze, with its body angled at 45°, the beetle catches fog droplets on its hardened wings, or elytra. Its head faces upwind, and its stiff, bumpy elytra are spread against the damp breeze. Minute water droplets (15-20 µm in diameter) from the fog gather on its wings; there the droplets stick to hydrophilic (water-loving) bumps, which are surrounded by waxy, hydrophobic troughs. Droplets flatten as they make contact with the hydrophilic surfaces, preventing them from being blown by wind and providing a surface for other droplets to attach. Accumulation continues until the combined droplet weight overcomes the water's electrostatic attraction to the bumps as well as any opposing force of the wind; in a 30 km/h breeze, such a droplet would stick to the wing until it grows to roughly 5 mm in diameter; at that point it will roll down the beetle's back to its mouthparts.
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have emulated this capability by creating a textured surface that combines alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials. Potential uses include extracting moisture from the air[1] and creating fog-free windows and mirrors. A company called NBD Nano is attempting to commercialize the technology.[2][3][needs update]
Recently, it has been shown that these beetles may also obtain water from dew (i.e. from humid air without fog).[4][5]
^"Namib Desert beetle inspires self-filling water bottle". BBC News. 2012-11-23.
^Springer Corporate Communications (8 December 2014). "Biomimetic dew harvesters". Springer. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
^de la Giroday, Maryse (December 2014). "Do Tenebrionind beetles collect dew or condensation—a water issue at the nanoscale". FrogHeart Communications. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
Further readingedit
Parker, A. R. & C. R. Lawrence (2001). "Water capture by a desert beetle". Nature. 414 (6859): 33–34. doi:10.1038/35102108. PMID 11689930. S2CID 34785113.
Guadarrama-Cetina, J.M.; et al. (2014). "Dew condensation on desert beetle skin". Eur. Phys. J. E. 37 (11): 109. doi:10.1140/epje/i2014-14109-y. hdl:10171/37082. PMID 25403836. S2CID 21054231.
Harries-Rees, Karen (August 31, 2005). "Desert beetle provides model for fog-free nanocoating". Chemistry World News. Royal Society of Chemistry.
. Biomimicry Guild. Archived from the original on 2006-12-08. Retrieved 2006-12-14.
April 15, 2024
stenocara, gracilipes, species, beetle, that, native, namib, desert, southern, africa, this, most, arid, areas, world, receiving, only, centimetres, rain, year, beetle, able, survive, collecting, water, bumpy, back, surface, from, early, morning, fogs, scienti. Stenocara gracilipes is a species of beetle that is native to the Namib Desert in southern Africa This is one of the most arid areas of the world receiving only 1 4 centimetres 0 55 in of rain per year The beetle is able to survive by collecting water on its bumpy back surface from early morning fogs Stenocara gracilipesScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder ColeopteraInfraorder CucujiformiaFamily TenebrionidaeGenus StenocaraSpecies S gracilipesBinomial nameStenocara gracilipesSolier 1835Wikispecies has information related to Stenocara gracilipes To drink water the S gracilipes stands on a small ridge of sand using its long spindly legs Facing into the breeze with its body angled at 45 the beetle catches fog droplets on its hardened wings or elytra Its head faces upwind and its stiff bumpy elytra are spread against the damp breeze Minute water droplets 15 20 µm in diameter from the fog gather on its wings there the droplets stick to hydrophilic water loving bumps which are surrounded by waxy hydrophobic troughs Droplets flatten as they make contact with the hydrophilic surfaces preventing them from being blown by wind and providing a surface for other droplets to attach Accumulation continues until the combined droplet weight overcomes the water s electrostatic attraction to the bumps as well as any opposing force of the wind in a 30 km h breeze such a droplet would stick to the wing until it grows to roughly 5 mm in diameter at that point it will roll down the beetle s back to its mouthparts Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have emulated this capability by creating a textured surface that combines alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials Potential uses include extracting moisture from the air 1 and creating fog free windows and mirrors A company called NBD Nano is attempting to commercialize the technology 2 3 needs update Recently it has been shown that these beetles may also obtain water from dew i e from humid air without fog 4 5 See also editOnymacris unguicularis another fog basking Namib desert beetle Physosterna cribripes another fog basking Namib desert beetleReferences edit Airdrop Irrigation at gizmag Retrieved 2015 01 05 Official NBD homepage Retrieved 2012 10 29 Namib Desert beetle inspires self filling water bottle BBC News 2012 11 23 Springer Corporate Communications 8 December 2014 Biomimetic dew harvesters Springer Retrieved 3 February 2022 de la Giroday Maryse December 2014 Do Tenebrionind beetles collect dew or condensation a water issue at the nanoscale FrogHeart Communications Retrieved 20 January 2015 Further reading editParker A R amp C R Lawrence 2001 Water capture by a desert beetle Nature 414 6859 33 34 doi 10 1038 35102108 PMID 11689930 S2CID 34785113 Guadarrama Cetina J M et al 2014 Dew condensation on desert beetle skin Eur Phys J E 37 11 109 doi 10 1140 epje i2014 14109 y hdl 10171 37082 PMID 25403836 S2CID 21054231 Harries Rees Karen August 31 2005 Desert beetle provides model for fog free nanocoating Chemistry World News Royal Society of Chemistry Stenocara beetle Biomimicry Guild Archived from the original on 2006 12 08 Retrieved 2006 12 14 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stenocara gracilipes amp oldid 1215872633, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
