The Impressive Aerial Maneuvers of the Pea Aphid (1 of 3) (IMAGE)
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
<i>Current Biology</i>, Ribak et al.
Usage Restrictions
Credit Required
License
Licensed content