Instead of drinking water through their mouths, beetles opt for a different approach by using their butts.
This unconventional method of quenching their thirst is a way for the insects to stay hydrated, since they can go their entire lives without actually drinking water through their mouths, according to a study published March 21 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .
While this derrière-drinking behavior was known to scientists, the mechanisms behind it were unclear. Now, a new investigation by researchers from Denmark and Scotland reveals that the insects can pull in moisture from the air through their rectums and convert it into a fluid, which is then absorbed into their bodies, according to a statement .
This is due to a gene known as NHA1"that is expressed 60 times more in the beetle's rectum compared to the rest of the animal," according to the statement. This anomaly resulted in"a unique group of cells known as leptophragmata cells," which the researchers determined"play a crucial role when the beetle absorbs water through its rear end.
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