What sensory organs housed in the head capsule must function both above and below the water surface for water beetles?
Answer
Compound eyes
The head capsule of the water beetle contains essential sensory apparatus required for survival in a semi-aquatic environment. The compound eyes are housed here, and they face the unique challenge of needing to maintain visual acuity and function effectively across two very different media: air (above the surface) and water (below the surface). This dual functionality is necessary for locating resources, avoiding terrestrial or aquatic threats, and navigating the boundary layer. While antennae also aid in sensing, the compound eyes are explicitly noted as needing to perform reliably in both environments, a common hurdle for many creatures that straddle terrestrial and aquatic existence.
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