Have you ever wondered how insects can walk on water? It's all thanks to a phenomenon known as surface tension. Essentially, surface tension is a property of water (or any liquid) that allows it to resist external forces. Water molecules bond with each other, and those exposed to air on one side form stronger bonds than those that aren't. Because insects are so tiny, they don't exert enough force to break these bonds, allowing them to effectively walk on water. A prime example of this can be seen in the water strider insect.
Insects are incredibly small creatures. So much so, that they could fall from a height equivalent to a 10-storey building and not get injured. However, they face many other perils such as the risk of being crushed, consumed or hunted. On top of these dangers, surface tension can also pose a threat. For insects, water can act like quicksand, trapping them within a water bubble from which they can't escape, leading to a watery death. Even if an insect manages to swim to the surface, its body isn't powerful enough to free itself from the bubble.
To counteract this, some insects have a protective coating made of keratin that allows water to simply slide off. This means that even if it rains, the raindrops will just land on the insect’s surface and roll off, keeping them dry and safe.
Discover More:
- Understanding Surface Tension – Definition, SI Unit, Formula, Dimension and Examples
- Exploring Phylum Arthropoda – Characteristics & Classification Of Arthropoda