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Last edited Thu Jul 9, 2026, 12:49 AM - Edit history (1)
Uniqueness of aquatic behavior
Although prey is usually consumed underwater in the diving bell, it is occasionally brought to the surface.
A. aquatica is the only known species of spider that spends almost all its life underwater, including resting, catching and eating prey, mating, egg laying, and overwintering. It only briefly surfaces to replenish its oxygen supply and occasionally will bring prey to the surface.[9][10][11][12]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diving_bell_spider
Although prey is usually consumed underwater in the diving bell, it is occasionally brought to the surface.
A. aquatica is the only known species of spider that spends almost all its life underwater, including resting, catching and eating prey, mating, egg laying, and overwintering. It only briefly surfaces to replenish its oxygen supply and occasionally will bring prey to the surface.[9][10][11][12]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diving_bell_spider
The diving bell spider Argyroneta aquatica having just left its diving bell bubble. Credit: Geoff Oxford
Note the bubble of trapped air around its abdomen -- its own 'aqualung'.
Natural selection beat them to it by a couple of million years. And no, spiders aren't insects, but the same principles should apply.
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