Why do many aquatic insects retain fully functional wings despite spending most of their life cycle underwater?
Answer
To provide an escape route from drying ponds or find new habitats
A notable characteristic of many water bug families, even those deeply committed to aquatic life cycles, is the retention of fully functional wings. While wings might cause drag during submersion, their persistence suggests a strong selective pressure favoring terrestrial dispersal capability. Having wings allows these insects to escape rapidly if their pond dries out or provides a mechanism to locate and colonize new, viable freshwater habitats, balancing the specialization for water against the needs of terrestrial mobility.
Related Questions
What approximate age is the fossilized insect *Zekuforma maculata*?What behavior, evidenced in 160-million-year-old fossils, suggests early complex parental care?How do giant water bugs (Belostomatidae) subdue larger prey using their rostrum?Which gender in many Belostomatidae species is responsible for brooding the eggs?What primary function do the highly modified forelegs serve for surface dwellers like the Gerridae family concept?What is one strategy water bugs use involving physical structures to carry an air supply underwater?What key evolutionary event is suggested to have been established during the Jurassic period based on 160-million-year-old forms?What evolutionary concept explains when unrelated aquatic groups independently evolve similar traits?Why do many aquatic insects retain fully functional wings despite spending most of their life cycle underwater?What analysis technique helps resolve ambiguities by confirming placement relative to terrestrial relatives?