In God’s creation of the world, he created many unique and interesting animals. Each one of the creations is a testimony to his handiwork. The “submarine beetle” is a good example.
The salt-marsh beetle as it is more commonly known, is among a very small number of this earth’s creatures that can inhabit the intertidal zone. The area of the ocean’s coastline is alternately flooded with salt water and then exposed to air. This makes living in the habitat a very difficult problem. It is neither land nor sea but a mixture of both. And here the salt-marsh beetle was created to find its niche or way of living.
The salt-marsh beetle has no special features, like some living in the zone, that allow it to live in the intertidal zone. What it does have is a good building ability. It lives burrowed down in the sand in waterproof tubes. These tubes are designed to provide the ultimate in underwater living accommodations. About 2 and 1/2 inches deep, each contains a living chamber, a water disposal area and an egg chamber in the females burrow. The chamber must be dug into a very special type of mud called blue mud, which will hold its shape when sculpted into various shapes. The burrow entrance is dug at an angle which offsets the entrance from the burrow below. This is part of the answer for how the salt-marsh beetle keeps water out of the burrow when the tide comes in. But not even careful construction will keep the burrow totally dry, it requires some quick action. At the time the tide is about to break over the burrow and begins filling the chambers, the salt-marsh beetle grabs mouths full of mud and runs to the top and plugs the opening. This plug will be removed when the low tide returns so that the air can once again enter the chambers.
This unique construction is built by both males and females as they live separately. During the mating season, then the males venture out in search of females with which to breed. They visit burrow after burrow looking for receptive females. If caught outside of the burrow when a wave comes in, the males will arch their body over their heads which traps air in a small bubble, which he breathes until the water leaves if he can hold on against the surge of water. When he finds a receptive female, he will enter the burrow and mate then leave to look for another mate.
The female will then lay eggs in the small side chambers of which she has one for each egg to be laid. There they hang, all dry, snug and protected, while just inches above them is the ocean. The female does emerge from the burrow at low tide to collect algae, which it stores on the sides of the neck of the burrow for eating later.
This unique lifestyle is indeed among the most unusual that one can find. The majesty of the Creator can be seen in a creature as small as the salt-marsh beetle.
