Baby mantises harness mid-air 'spin' during jumps for precision landings
Thursday, March 5, 2015 - 12:30
in Paleontology & Archaeology
The smaller you are, the harder it is not to spin out of control when you jump. Miniscule errors in propulsive force relative to the centre of mass results in most jumping insects - such as fleas, leafhoppers and grasshoppers - spinning uncontrollably when they jump.