Air-bubble armor lets alkali fly survive California's caustic Mono Lake

1 min read
Source: BBC Wildlife Magazine
Air-bubble armor lets alkali fly survive California's caustic Mono Lake
Photo: BBC Wildlife Magazine
TL;DR Summary

A BBC Wildlife feature explains how the alkali fly survives the toxic, salty waters of California's Mono Lake by living mostly underwater inside an air bubble, aided by a waxy, water-repellent cuticle; only its eyes touch the liquid, and it feeds on algae with grappling-hook claws, effectively wearing a natural armor for an extreme environment.

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