How do Aphelocheiridae creeping water bugs obtain oxygen while remaining underwater?

Aphelocheiridae, commonly known as creeping water bugs, are a group of aquatic insects that utilize a specialized respiratory adaptation known as a plastron to obtain oxygen while submerged.1

The plastron functions as a permanent, thin layer of air held against the insect's body by a dense covering of hydrofuge (water-repellent) hairs. This air layer is continuous with the insect's internal tracheal system. Because the volume of this air film remains constant and is held under tension, it acts as a physical gill, allowing the insect to extract dissolved oxygen directly from the surrounding water.123

This mechanism is highly efficient, as it enables these insects to remain underwater indefinitely without needing to return to the surface for air, provided the water is sufficiently oxygenated.1