Do flying insects drown in natural water or only in pools?

Limeey, 11 months ago

Kurzgesgat has a good video that discusses how insects and “smaller” life forms have a different set of “dangers” that larger life forms. Gravity becomes a non issue, but surface tension becomes incredibly dangerous. Being trapped in water is definitely a real danger for insects, though typically they aren’t going to “drown” for a long time since they’ll float near the top and have access to air. I think a bigger concern is exhaustion from flailing

Guadin, 11 months ago

Funny to think about the different dangers those insect come across. Indeed, when thinking about it gravity will not be an issue.

wwaxwork, 11 months ago

I don't know for sure, but some thoughts on the matter. If the pool has lights in it, they are attracted to the lights. Also they will land to drink and swimming pools unlike puddles or ponds, usually have steep sides without rocks, overhanging branches, shallow ends etc for them to land on, so they fall in and then can't get out. Also insects in larger bodies of water that do fall in would get eaten by fish.

Guadin, 11 months ago

Ah yes. I haven't thought about the last part. Of course fish would eat the insects on the surface. So there wouldn't be a lot of them left to see.

Aremel, 11 months ago

Do they drown in natural water? And if not, why do they die in poolwater?

I can answer the 2nd part of the question. Man-made pools have chemicals (chlorine being the main one) introduced to them as a means of stopping or slowing plants and fungus growing in them. These chemicals aren't just harmful to plants and fungus, but to all life. We (and larger animals) are OK because there are just enough chemicals to stop plant and fungus growth, but if we drank the pool water we would get very sick. Insects, being as small as they are, are affected by these chemicals and die quickly if they do not leave the pool in time.

I do not know if these chemicals also somehow alter the surface tension of the water and therefore makes it harder for insects to leave, or makes it easier for them to get stuck in it. Hopefully someone with more knowledge can chime in.

Guadin, 11 months ago

Thanks. I thought it had something todo with the chemicals. But I still wonder why they get in the water in the first place. But maybe it's just not as obvious in natural water.