For insects, walking on water is an easy feat. For example, water striders are known for using surface tension to accomplish this feat. A totally bizarre video shows a beetle who has made a remarkable leap to the bottom of the water's surface.Researchers who found it believe it to be a member of the Hydrophilidae family. It can glide along the water's surface like a sheet of clear glass. This is the first time that an insect has been seen moving in this bizarre fashion.Accidental discovery led to the discovery of the beetle. John Gould (a University of Newcastle behavioral biologist in Callaghan in Australia) was looking for tadpoles when he noticed a small, black object moving through the water.He initially thought that an insect had fallen in the water and was enjoying some surface swimming. A second glance revealed that the bug was attached to the water's underside and was moving contentedly along it.Similar: Meet the Beetles: Amazing museum specimens from LondonGould explained to Live Science that the moment he realized the beetle was walking across the water's underside, he knew he had discovered something really bizarre. The beetle was walking casually along the water's bottom while upside down. It would stop every now and again, then continue walking along the water's surface, as though it were walking on any other solid surface.Gould stated that the most remarkable thing about the critter was its ability to walk and rest on the water's surface.He explained that it could remain on the water's surface and not expend any energy. This is unlike large animals like lizards that have to run to avoid sinking through the water's surface. It could also be able to reduce the noise it makes, while still remaining still.It is not clear how the amazing beast was able to achieve this feat physically, but Gould along with his team believe that a visible bubble of air trapped on the beetle's stomach may provide a clue. Many tiny projections, like hairs, cover the beetle's body, which allows it to capture air. The air could be enough to provide an upward, buoyant force to hold the beetle on the water's surface.Gould stated that the attachment organs on the legs trap bubbles and allow the insect to interact with water's surface so that it can walk easily without breaking the surface tension. It is possible that its small size contributes to this ability. Disruption to the surface tension is less likely than for larger insects.More research is required to determine the mechanism behind the insect's ability to water-walk and the reasons for this adaptation. One possibility is that the insect could be sitting on the surface to avoid predators lurking at the bottom of the pools.It doesn't matter what the answer is, it will provide valuable insights for the rest of the world. Scientists note that research on other water-walking insects like water striders has led to advances in robotic insects capable of achieving the same feat.The findings of the researchers were published in Ethology on June 28, 2008.Original publication on Live Science
