{"id":38939,"date":"2024-05-29T14:43:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-29T12:43:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/5d8bd750-79eb-4d64-864e-22d5b30ecdc7"},"modified":"2024-05-29T15:27:29","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T13:27:29","slug":"how-do-insects-survive-downpours","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/how-do-insects-survive-downpours\/","title":{"rendered":"How do insects survive downpours?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Entomologist Richard Jones reveals an insect’s survival strategy for wet weather <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 29 May 2024 at 12:43 PM<\/p>

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On the whole, insects<\/a> do not fly in wet weather, says entomologist Richard Jones. Instead, they find a roost and sit tight until the deluge is over.<\/p>

However, research on mosquitoes using high-speed video footage shows that, as they head for shelter, they can survive being hit by raindrops many times bigger and heavier than themselves – the equivalent of humans being struck by cars.<\/p>

The phenomenon – which probably applies to all tiny flying insects<\/a> – has been described as “boxing with giant balloons”.<\/p>

The drops do not burst on hitting an individual, but knock it aside, a result of water surface tension and the water-repellent nature of the insect cuticle.<\/p>

Occasionally, a large raindrop will completely surround or adhere to an insect, dragging it down. Provided the bug is flying high enough, it will usually break free before impact.<\/p>

Nonetheless, heavy showers are a danger to flying insects.<\/p>

I once witnessed a mass emergence of flying ants in Normandy, just before that sultry August afternoon gave rise to a spectacular thunderstorm over the Channel.<\/p>

Next day, the sandy beaches of Trouville-sur-Mer were strewn with long, black strandlines of dead insects, mostly comprising (according to my calculations) several billion drowned ants<\/a>.<\/p>

Discover more fascinating insect facts<\/strong><\/p>