Biologists have filmed a tiny beetle doing the fastest backflip on Earth
The biologists presented a funny and impressive video. The video shows a tiny beetle quickly flipping over in the air.
The spherical bug was recognized as the world's fastest backflip performer. According to the researchers, this baby with a springy tail can spin to a height 60 times its body size in a moment, TheSun reports.
Scientists emphasize that this beetle is so tiny and fast that it seems to the naked eye that it completely disappears when it jumps.
According to biologists, these bugs are only a few millimeters long. They cannot fly, bite, or sting. However, backflips are their secret talent, which helps them fend off hungry predators.
To do backflips, bugs use an appendage that curls up under their abdomen called the furca.
Source: Screenshot
"When spherical springtails jump, they don't just bounce up and down, they flip in midair – it's the closest thing to a Sonic the Hedgehog jump that you can do in real life. So naturally, I wanted to see in detail how they do it," explained Adrian Smith, an assistant professor of biology at North Carolina State University.
Conventional cameras and smartphones are not able to capture the beetles in action. Therefore, the researchers had to use special photographic devices that shoot 40,000 frames per second. The experts then illuminated the beetles and gently pushed them with a brush to encourage them to do backflips.
Springtails can take off on a 60-millimeter span.
Source: Screenshot
"It takes only one-thousandth of a second for a spherical springtail to bounce off the ground. These beetles can reach a top speed of 368 revolutions per second," Smith said.
Judging by the incredible video, the scientists managed to shoot a super video that will help in the study of this species of tiny insects.
.Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Subscribe
Subscribe
