Contact: Mary Beth OLeary
moleary@cell.com
617-397-2802
Cell Press

The Impressive Aerial Maneuvers of the Pea Aphid (2 of 3)

Caption: You might not think much about pea aphids, but it turns out they’ve got skills enough to get aerospace engineers excited. A report in the Feb. 4th issue of Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, shows that the insects can free fall from the plants they feed on and--within a fraction of a second--land on their feet every time. Oftentimes, the falling aphids manage to cling to a lower part of the plant by their sticky feet on the way down, avoiding the dangerous ground altogether.

Credit: Current Biology, Ribak et al.

Usage Restrictions: Credit Required

Related news release: The impressive aerial maneuvers of the pea aphid