Some insects can walk on water’s surface without drowning or damaging themselves. Butterflies have legs and walk on the plants to spot the nectar-rich area. They also use their legs for various purposes, such as sensing the host plant with chemoreceptors in their feet and clinging to the surfaces.
Can Butterflies Walk on Water? Butterflies cannot walk on the water because they do not have hydrophobic legs and different exoskeletons that cannot maintain balance and weight on the water to take steps and move forward. Moreover, they have large wingspan and terrestrial adaptations to survive on the land, not in water. Their wings can get damaged, and the scales can wash off if they stroll on the water.
They drink water but cannot swim like many insects and animals. Moreover, the Antarctic pteropod is also called the sea butterfly, which confuses people. However, it is a medium-sized snail, not a butterfly species, named so because of its swift and elegant swimming pattern in the sea.
Why butterflies cannot walk on the water?
Butterflies are not observed walking on water, like ants and water spiders, as they have different anatomy and adaptations to survive in their environments.
Cannot maintain weight on the water surface
Butterflies have lightweight bodies and different structures in their exoskeleton. The insects walking on water are lightweight, but they have a body shape that allows them to adjust their surface area and body weight according to the surface tension of water.
This surface tension does not allow them to pierce their legs deep inside it, and they move conveniently, taking small leaping steps.
However, I studied the anatomical features and the exoskeleton shape of butterflies, which cause them to not walk and swim on the water surface despite their lightweight bodies.
I learned that they have more densely packed atoms at the center of their bodies, such as their abdomen, and their exoskeleton is different from the insects walking on the liquid surface. Therefore, they cannot maintain and balance their bodies on liquid surfaces.
Large wing area
Insects that can swim and take steps on the water layer do not have large wingspans and can move without drowning.
However, the broad wings of butterflies make it difficult for them to take steps on a liquid surface. My little nephew asked me if they could walk and float on the water when feeding these appealing insects in the yard using a plate and sponge with sugar nectar.
I was impressed with his question but did not know the exact answer, so we decided to perform an experiment.
We filled a large tub with water and caught a butterfly from the garden to place it in the tub. To our surprise, the butterfly did not take a step and tried to fly away due to fear of drowning. The large wings caused it to fumble, and it flapped them rapidly to escape.
Difficulty in breathing
I met my friend a few days ago, and we discussed the various characteristics of these fascinating insects and how they breathe oxygen in their bodies.
He studied many facts about their respiratory system and told me they do not have a nose and lungs to breathe and intake oxygen.
However, they have spiracles on their body, and these holes are connected to the tubes called tracheals that take the oxygen to their bodies.
He said the butterflies do not walk on water due to these spiracles, as they cannot take oxygen to the body if water gets inside these holes.
Terrestrial adaptations
Butterflies are terrestrial creatures and are adapted to survive on the land. They do not go in the water and try to avoid the rainy weather.
They have wings and can take flights on sunny days with suitable environmental temperature conditions around their habitats.
They are not adapted to walk on the liquid surfaces and have different morphology than the semi-terrestrial species.
Their feet are not hydrophobic and cannot repel the water and drown in it.
They develop the traits that help them survive on the land rather than in water, such as foraging nectar-rich flowering plants, attracting mates, and laying eggs on the host plants.
Problems in flight with wet wings
Butterflies cannot take flight with wet wings and need favorable temperatures to warm up their muscles before they start flying.
My cousin told me that the liquid drops on their wings or the wet wings cause extra weight on their bodies, and they cannot maintain their flight.
He said they face challenges in taking flights if they land on the water’s surface or walk on it because they eventually have to fly to find food and mates.
He further explained that these sensitive flying insects need more time and a sunny environment to dry their weather after coming out of the water to dry their wings because they cannot immediately take flight after walking on a liquid surface.
Damage to wings and scales
They have fragile wings with different color patterns and scales to add beauty and functionality to their lifestyles.
They do not stroll on the water surface because it can cause the scales to wash off their wings, and they cannot fly anymore.
The scales offer strength to their wings, and they maintain balance during the flight. Relaxing on the water can cause severe problems for these innocent insects, and they become more prone to predation.
Moreover, I discussed this topic with my neighbor because he had a vast knowledge of butterflies. He told me that strolling on the water surface can lead to problems like intense ripples, trapping in water bubbles, and predation.
How do butterflies stick to the surfaces?
Butterflies have claws on their feet and use them to cling to the surfaces. These claws help them to have a strong grip on the surface of leaves and stems but not on water.
Their claws are sharp and help them scratch the leaves to taste the nectar before feeding and laying eggs.
Moreover, the claws on each foot assist these delicate creatures in holding onto the surfaces in heavy wind conditions and on rainy days.
However, these claws do not help them stick to the water surfaces because they are adapted to use them on land.
Can caterpillars walk on the water?
Butterfly caterpillars cannot take steps or stroll on the water because they can only crawl on the plants and ground. They can survive rain and hide under the vegetation.
However, my colleague told me that sometimes caterpillars can survive in the water by catching on the plants, leaves, and other objects on the surface. I often asked him about butterflies and caterpillars because he reared many of their species for approximately five years.
He said some caterpillars of Elephant hawk moth and Fox moth are reported to swim in the ponds. Moreover, he explained that the caterpillars are not adapted to stroll on water and drown.
What type of insects can walk on the water?
Water spiders, some cricket species, a few beetles, ants, water striders, mosquitoes, and water boatmen can walk on the water because of various adaptations.
These insects use the water tension phenomena to walk on the surface of the liquid, and many of them have hydrophobic legs that help them stroll.
Moreover, I studied in a research that they use the natural surface tension and their small weight with more surface area to remain buoyant on the water and walk.
In addition, the hydrophobic legs prevent adhesion and increase cohesion, such as keeping the legs from getting into the water and breaking the surface tension.
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