This slow-motion video of a praying mantis leaping onto a vertical pole reveals the complex choreography that the insects must perform in order to successfully reach their target. To maintain a steady course, the mantis twists and rotates three body parts: its front legs, its abdomen, and its rear legs. The front and rear legs are rotated in opposing directions and swap directions a few times during the maneuver. The jump is completed in just 100 milliseconds.
The video was created by University of Cambridge researcher Malcolm Burrows.
