FOR KIDS: These ants boast mighty grip

Strong sticking power and quick reaction time helps them hold onto trees

By Susan Milius

Web edition: March 5, 2013

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This Asian weaver ant can dangle a weight more than 100 times heavier than itself without losing its grip on the surface above it.

Credit: ? Thomas Endlein

Asian weaver ants boast not one but two superpowers: an extremely good grasp and a super quick backup strategy to keep from losing that grip during emergencies. To find out how? these critters manage to keep their grip ? especially when their footing gets shaky, researchers used high-speed video. They?recorded the tiny animals? even tinier feet and showed they can change shape.

Visit the new?Science News for Kids?website?and read the full story:?These ants boast mighty grip

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348714/title/FOR_KIDS_These_ants_boast_mighty_grip

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