What hardened forewings trap the silvery air bubble for respiration?
Answer
elytra
Many aquatic beetle species, including diving and crawling types, manage underwater respiration by utilizing their hardened forewings, known as the elytra, to trap a physical bubble of atmospheric air. This silvery bubble acts essentially as a temporary physical gill. As the beetle submerges, it carries this air supply. Oxygen from the surrounding water diffuses into this trapped bubble, enriching the air supply from which the beetle breathes via its spiracles located near the abdomen's tip. The beetle must periodically surface to renew this essential air reserve.
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