Reducing surface tension to travel on water: rove beetle
Abdominal glands of the rove beetle help it skim quickly across water via secreted chemicals that locally reduce surface tension.
| Biomimicry Taxonomy | |
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Move or stay put > |
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In/on liquids |
| Biomimetic Application Ideas | |
| Mimic the molecule to spread on mosquito larvae ponds, thus reducing surface tension and suffocating the mosquitoes in their life cycle when they are using their siphon. Creating a more wettable surface by lowering the surface tension. Allowing water to spread along a surface, moving at consistent velocity to arrange molecules. Propulsion without motors. |
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"Perhaps the most unusual way of getting around is demonstrated by the semiaquatic rove beetle. Jumping onto the surface of the pond, this beetle excretes a chemical which reacts so violently with water that the insect is sent skimming across the pond at high speed." (Forsyth 1992:29)
Stenus
[Rove beetle]
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist
Application Ideas: Mimic the molecule to spread on mosquito larvae ponds, thus reducing surface tension and suffocating the mosquitoes in their life cycle when they are using their siphon. Creating a more wettable surface by lowering the surface tension. Allowing water to spread along a surface, moving at consistent velocity to arrange molecules. Propulsion without motors.
Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Insect control, nanotechnology, transportation
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