Fog basking by Namib Desert weevils

Namib Desert weevils (Leptostethus marginatus) exhibit a unique fog-basking behavior, capturing water droplets from fog using concave pits and grooves on their wing cases and thoraxes. Unlike the convex surface architecture of darkling beetles, this specialized structure allows efficient water harvesting, offering potential for biomimetic applications to address water scarcity in arid regions. Observations made near Walvis Bay in the Namib Sand Sea during heavy fog conditions highlighted the weevils' ability to collect water, suggesting new avenues for developing artificial surfaces inspired by their morphology.

Lovegrove, B. G. (2020). Fog basking by Namib Desert weevils. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 18(9), 495. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2270