FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Fun Trivia
Home: Questions and Answers Forum
Answers to 100,000 Fascinating Questions
Welcome to FunTrivia's Question & Answer forum!

Search All Questions


Please cite any factual claims with citation links or references from authoritative sources. Editors continuously recheck submissions and claims.

Archived Questions

Goto Qn #


What is the only insect that can survive year-round in Antarctica?

Question #151594. Asked by psnz.
Last updated Aug 14 2024.
Originally posted Aug 14 2024 8:19 PM.

avatar
BigTriviaDawg star
Answer has 2 votes
BigTriviaDawg star
7 year member
1007 replies avatar

Answer has 2 votes.
The Antarctic midge is a tiny flightless insect that lives in Antarctica year-round. When it is cold outside the midge burrows a centimeter below the ground and provides a protective jelly for its eggs so they don't freeze. It is the largest purely terrestrial animal endemic to the continent. However, it is worth noting that the habited area of these midges is on one of the coastal peninsulas. So you won't find them at the South Pole.
The flightlessness of B. antarctica may be an adaptation to prevent wind from blowing it into inhospitable areas. It can survive freezing, but though local air temperatures may reach as low as -40 °C, this insect cannot survive temperatures below -15 °C. This is comparatively milder than other cold-adapted insects. The reason for this relatively low freezing tolerance is due to thermal buffering: just burrowing at a depth of 1 cm, temperature is stable between 0 and -2 °C for 10 months out of 12, and it seldom goes lower than -7 °C all year round. Ice and snow cover also helps keep the temperature stable. Freezing tolerance is enhanced by cold hardening.

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgica_antarctica

Response last updated by BigTriviaDawg on Aug 14 2024.
Aug 14 2024, 8:22 PM
free email trivia FREE! Get a new mixed Fun Trivia quiz each day in your email. It's a fun way to start your day!


arrow Your Email Address:

Sign in or Create Free User ID to participate in the discussion

Related FunTrivia Quizzes

play quiz I Am The Insect
(Insects)
play quiz Am I An Insect?
(Invertebrates for Kids)
play quiz What Do You Know About Antarctica?
(Polar Regions)

Return to FunTrivia
"Ask FunTrivia" strives to offer the best answers possible to trivia questions. We ask our submitters to thoroughly research questions and provide sources where possible. Feel free to post corrections or additions. This is server B184.