An incredible image of a tiny ant carrying 100 times its own body weight, while hanging upside down from a glass-like surface, has won first prize in a national science photo competition.
The amazing picture was snapped by scientists at Cambridge University by a team in the department of zoology investigating the extraordinary sticky feet of ants and other insects.
The image, taken by Dr Thomas Endlein, shows an Asian weaver ant, upside down on a smooth surface, carrying a 500mg weight in its jaws.
Other pictures in the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) science photo competition included a crow using a stick to fish food, a killer whale and a salmon caught in a net.
"It won first prize because it was a beautiful image and managed to convey complex science," said the BBSRC.
Weaver ants use their feet and their legs to achieve their sticky feats.
Dr Endelin: said: "Ants can change the size and shape of the pads on their feet depending on the load they are carrying. If they have to carry heavy loads they increase the contact area, and when they need to run they decrease it."
The ants' legs also play a part in the insects' stickiness by making clever use of what scientists call "peeling forces".
"If you think about peeling off sticky tape from a surface, it's easiest when you peel at a steep, rather than a shallow, angle.
"Ants use the same mechanism: when they want to stick, they keep their legs at a shallow angle relative to the surface, and when they want to release their legs they increase this angle and peel off easily," he added.
Ant shatters world record, carries 101 times its weight
The Scallion , August 10, 2009 - An unnamed ant (because despite their complex communication and farming abilities, ants don’t have names) shattered the world record of weight carried by an ant Monday in the Ant Olympics.
The leaf-cutter ant cut and managed to hoist a leaf weighing 303mg, topping the record set in 1901. The previous record belonged to another unnamed ant which lifted 300mg, 100 times its own body weight.
The new record holder could not be reached for comment (because ants cannot communicate with humans), but Vince MacGee, the ant’s coach, said, “You know, that ant is a great competitor. He really worked hard all season, and in the off-season, too, and you really got to hand it to him. When that leaf had to be carried, he really responded like a champion and really showed the whole league he knew how to carry a leaf. I’m really proud of him right now. Or her. Do ants have gender? I don’t know. It’s a great day!”
Via - Telegraph , The Scallion
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