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Mantises exchange angular momentum between three rotating body parts to jump precisely to targets

Burrows, Malcolm; Cullen, Darron A.; Dorosenko, Marina; Sutton, Gregory P.

Authors

Malcolm Burrows

Marina Dorosenko

Gregory P. Sutton



Abstract

Flightless animals have evolved diverse mechanisms to control their movements in air, whether falling with gravity or propelling against it. Many insects jump as a primary mode of locomotion and must therefore precisely control the large torques generated during takeoff. For example, to minimize spin (angular momentum of the body) at takeoff, plant-sucking bugs apply large equal and opposite torques from two propulsive legs [1]. Interacting gear wheels have evolved in some to give precise synchronization of these legs [2, 3]. Once airborne, as a result of either jumping or falling, further adjustments may be needed to control trajectory and orient the body for landing. Tails are used by geckos to control pitch [4, 5] and by Anolis lizards to alter direction [6, 7]. When falling, cats rotate their body [8], while aphids [9] and ants [10, 11] manipulate wind resistance against their legs and thorax. Falling is always downward, but targeted jumping must achieve many possible desired trajectories. We show that when making targeted jumps, juvenile wingless mantises first rotated their abdomen about the thorax to adjust the center of mass and thus regulate spin at takeoff. Once airborne, they then smoothly and sequentially transferred angular momentum in four stages between the jointed abdomen, the two raptorial front legs, and the two propulsive hind legs to produce a controlled jump with a precise landing. Experimentally impairing abdominal movements reduced the overall rotation so that the mantis either failed to grasp the target or crashed into it head first.

Citation

Burrows, M., Cullen, D. A., Dorosenko, M., & Sutton, G. P. (2015). Mantises exchange angular momentum between three rotating body parts to jump precisely to targets. Current biology : CB, 25(6), 786-789. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2015.01.054

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 22, 2015
Online Publication Date Mar 5, 2015
Publication Date Mar 16, 2015
Deposit Date Sep 25, 2023
Journal Current Biology
Print ISSN 0960-9822
Electronic ISSN 1879-0445
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 25
Issue 6
Pages 786-789
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2015.01.054
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4399096