Harrison Shannon-Louise, Woodrow Charlie, Goode Chloe K, Montealegre-Z Fernando, Deeming Denis Charles, Sutton Gregory P
University of Lincoln (UK) School of Life Sciences, LN6 7TS Lincoln, UK.
Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18 D, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden.
iScience. 2025 May 23;28(6):112738. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112738. eCollection 2025 Jun 20.
Jumping is one of the most used forms of locomotion by insects, and a characteristic trait of the Orthoptera (locusts, crickets, and allies). Their specialized jumping behaviors have evolved for various functions, including travel, predator evasion, and flight initiation. While these jumping behaviors have been studied, targeted jumps required for navigating complex environments and hunting have received little attention. Here, we document a vertical jumping behavior in a species of neotropical predatory bush cricket (. Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae), which uses visual cues to estimate target distance. Jumping kinematics were adjusted between jump heights (50mm, 75mm, and 100mm), with an increase in linear velocity and decrease in angular velocity at higher target heights. Body and leg postures also varied between jump heights. This study provides evidence that can independently control both the speed at take-off and rotation rate based on target distance to achieve a precise and controlled landing.
跳跃是昆虫最常用的运动形式之一，也是直翅目昆虫（蝗虫、蟋蟀及相关种类）的一个特征。它们特化的跳跃行为已经进化出多种功能，包括移动、躲避捕食者和启动飞行。虽然这些跳跃行为已经得到研究，但在复杂环境中导航和捕猎所需的定向跳跃却很少受到关注。在这里，我们记录了一种新热带捕食性灌丛蟋蟀（螽斯科：美螽亚科）的垂直跳跃行为，该蟋蟀利用视觉线索来估计目标距离。在不同的跳跃高度（50毫米、75毫米和100毫米）之间，跳跃运动学特征会进行调整，目标高度越高，线性速度增加，角速度降低。身体和腿部姿势在不同跳跃高度之间也有所不同。这项研究提供了证据，表明（该蟋蟀）能够根据目标距离独立控制起飞速度和旋转速率，以实现精确且可控的着陆。
