Summary
Little sharpshooter insects drink so much watery plant sap that they have to fling away the leftover as fast-flying droplets. Deep Look reveals the surprising plumbing behind this tiny 'super-powered pee.'
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All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
Sharpshooters feed on xylem -- watery sap with very little nutrition -- so they must drink huge amounts and get rid of the extra water. A special flicking body part launches the droplets away amazingly fast. Their bodies are built to process a very watery diet.
- Why do sharpshooters take in so much watery sap?
- How does the insect get rid of all the extra water?
- How is the sharpshooter's body matched to its watery food?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: xylem, sap, droplet, structure.
Try it: Sip water through a straw and imagine drinking cups of it. Write why the sharpshooter must fling away so much water.