Springtails control their fantastic leaps

2 years ago
4

Long thought to launch themselves randomly into the air when danger threatens, tiny springtails (Isotomurus retardatus) turn out to have some control over their leaping direction. They also curve their body to stop tumbling in air and use a tubelike structure on their underside to help land upright some 85 percent of the time. (High-speed video has been slowed for viewing.)

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