Take-off speed in jumping mantises depends on body size and a power-limited mechanism

Sutton, G. P.; Doroshenko, M.; Cullen, D. A.; Burrows, M.

Abstract

Many insects such as fleas, froghoppers and grasshoppers use a catapult mechanism to jump, and a direct consequence of this is that their take-off velocities are independent of their mass. In contrast, insects such as mantises, caddis flies and bush crickets propel their jumps by direct muscle contractions. What constrains the jumping performance of insects that use this second mechanism? To answer this question, the jumping performance of the mantis Stagmomantis theophila was measured through all its developmental stages, from 5 mg first instar nymphs to 1200 mg adults. Older and heavier mantises have longer hind and middle legs and higher take-off velocities than younger and lighter mantises. The length of the propulsive hind and middle legs scaled approximately isometrically with body mass (exponent=0.29 and 0.32, respectively). The front legs, which do not contribute to propulsion, scaled with an exponent of 0.37. Take-off velocity increased with increasing body mass (exponent=0.12). Time to accelerate increased and maximum acceleration decreased, but the measured power that a given mass of jumping muscle produced remained constant throughout all stages. Mathematical models were used to distinguish between three possible limitations to the scaling relationships: first, an energylimited model (which explains catapult jumpers); second, a powerlimited model; and third, an acceleration-limited model. Only the model limited by muscle power explained the experimental data. Therefore, the two biomechanical mechanisms impose different limitations on jumping: those involving direct muscle contractions (mantises) are constrained by muscle power, whereas those involving catapult mechanisms are constrained by muscle energy.

Citation

Sutton, G. P., Doroshenko, M., Cullen, D. A., & Burrows, M. (2016). Take-off speed in jumping mantises depends on body size and a power-limited mechanism. The journal of experimental biology, 219(14), 2127-2136. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.133728

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 3, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jul 15, 2016
• Publication Date: Jul 15, 2016
• Deposit Date: Sep 25, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 4, 2023
• Journal: Journal of Experimental Biology
• Print ISSN: 0022-0949
• Publisher: The Company of Biologists
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 219
• Issue: 14
• Pages: 2127-2136
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.133728
• Keywords: Take-off; Catapult mechanisms; Body mass; Direct muscle contraction; Scaling; Mantis
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4399049