The springtail, measuring only a few millimeters in length, can leap up to 60 mm and takes just a fraction of a second to flip in mid-air.
The springtail is the fastest flipping insect on the planet. (Video: Adrian Smith).
A research team at North Carolina State University has discovered that the springtail (Dicyrtomina minuta) has an astonishing ability to jump backward rapidly, according to a report by Interesting Engineering on August 30. The study was recently published in the journal Integrative Organismal Biology.
“When springtails jump, they don’t just leap up and land; they also flip over in mid-air,” explained Adrian Smith, an assistant professor of biology at North Carolina State University. Smith noted that no other creature can match their flipping speed.
The springtail is only a few millimeters long and poses no threat, as it neither flies nor bites. Their only means of defense against predators is to jump, which they do exceptionally well, often disappearing from sight in an instant. However, studying this insect’s jump is a challenge because they are so fast that they blur in standard camera footage.
To tackle this issue, Smith and his colleagues used high-speed cameras recording at 40,000 frames per second. By using light or a gentle touch from a paintbrush, Smith stimulated the springtails to jump. He then studied their jumping motion, including the launch speed, distance traveled, and landing style.
Springtails can jump up to 60 mm, several times their body length.
Through this research, they uncovered the biological mechanics behind their impressive flips. Instead of legs, they jump using a special appendage known as the furca, which is tucked under their abdomen. This appendage has a small forked end that allows the springtail to perform a series of rapid flips while jumping. However, landing is quite challenging for them.
The springtail takes just a fraction of a second to flip and can reach a maximum rotation speed of 368 degrees per second. Furthermore, they can jump as high as 60 mm, which is many times their body length.
These jumps are not directed or aimed forward. Therefore, the research team concluded that their jumping is not for movement but for survival. “We believe their jumps are solely for quickly escaping from predators or other dangers they may encounter,” Smith stated.
Currently, the primary goal of the research is to better describe and analyze the behavior of springtails. However, with the rise of nature-inspired robots and drones, their unique jumping ability could inspire future technology. “We are conducting further research to uncover some design principles and engineering techniques from these organisms,” Smith added.
