Scientists uncover how beetles stay hydrated by sucking water into their butts.
Scientists have discovered that beetles can absorb water through their rectums and convert it into fluid, which is then absorbed into their bodies. This is due to a gene known as NHA1, which is expressed 60 times more in the beetle's rectum compared to the rest of the animal. The insects can go their entire lives without drinking water through their mouths, thanks to their modified rectum and closely applied kidneys, which together make a multi-organ system that is highly specialized in extracting water from the food that they eat and from the air around them.