News Desert beetle catches fog on its back By Susan Milius November 13, 2001 at 12:43 pm - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to print (Opens in new window) Print The nubbly back of a beetle in Africa’s Namib Desert has inspired a device for harvesting water from fog. A beetle species of the Namib Desert can catch fog droplets with a special bumpy surface on its back. Parker When a patch of dense fog rolls over the desert, the beetle, a species of the genus Stenocara, upends its body into a handstand.