Why Can’t Ants Jump?
WouterSeveral species of ants have a jump, but only a few actually jump. These creatures do not have a natural ability to jump, but they have evolved to use a different mechanism for propelling themselves into the air.
Unlike other jumping animals, ants don’t take damage from falling. The exoskeletons that they use absorb the force of impact, allowing them to get up without sustaining damage. They also have a very elastic jump mechanism, which stores energy in the tendons of their leg.
The ability to jump may be very important in ants. When they come across predators or other obstacles, they can jump backward into thin air. They may also use forward jumps for ambush attacks. In the future, scientists may look into ants’ jumping abilities and discover more creative ways to jump.
Some species of ants can walk on glass or aluminum. They can also climb rough surfaces. However, ants are not adapted for jumping in water.
Another group of ants, called trap-jaws, can jump forward. These insects are predators, and their powerful jaws can open and snap against the ground. This enables them to spring ahead and escape danger.
Another group, called leg-jumpers, jumps to capture prey. This is the first time scientists have found an ant that is capable of jumping forward. The ants studied were from Borneo, and they jumped twice as often as ants that jumped backward.
When ants jump forward, they may use their abdominal muscles to stabilize their body’s rotation. This movement is also seen in many vertebrates and other insects.
