Skip to content

Blog
About
Contact Us
Email Newsletter

Hanging in Tar Pits

Written by

in

The petroleum fly's maggot secretes a fluid that is oil-repellant, allowing it to move easily through the La Brea Tar Pit's asphalt.

Protected from asphalt, the maggots feast on other unfortunate creatures that get stuck in the pit.

The adult petroleum fly is oil-resistent only on its feet. If other parts of its body touch the asphalt, it will get stuck.

←Skydiving Salamanders

More posts

“Sunny Seaweed Surf”
May 29, 2026
AI-Based Weather Forecasting Has Blind Spots
May 28, 2026
Blue Jewels and Gray Haze
May 27, 2026
Predicting Volcanic Eruptions
May 26, 2026

FYFD

Celebrating the physics of all that flows

Blog
About
Contact Us
Email Newsletter

Twenty Twenty-Five

Designed with WordPress