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Monday, November 23, 2009

Photo: Hairy Insects Use Bubble "Lungs" to Stay Underwater


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Hundreds of insect species, including the water boatman seen above, use a thin layer of air trapped around their bodies to breathe underwater.

A study published in August 2008 describes how some bugs can use these bubbles like external lungs to stay submerged for long periods.

Photograph courtesy John Bush and Morris Flynn