The Unconventional Hydration Method of Beetles

1 min read
Source: ScienceAlert
The Unconventional Hydration Method of Beetles
Photo: ScienceAlert
TL;DR Summary

Beetles can rehydrate themselves by drinking trace amounts of water floating in the air through their rectums. They can also reabsorb water from their poop, and their butts are surprisingly proficient at wringing moisture out of it, too. Researchers have discovered a gene called NHA1 that is essential to this process, which is new knowledge for us. The study can help develop more targeted methods to combat beetle species which destroy our food production, without killing other animals or harming humans and nature.

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