Cb. Urbani et al., A NOVEL MECHANISM FOR JUMPING IN THE INDIAN ANT HARPEGNATHOS SALTATOR(JERDON) (FORMICIDAE, PONERINAE), Experientia, 50(1), 1994, pp. 63-71
The Indian ant Harpegnathos saltator may be unique among insects in us
ing its jumping capacity not only as an escape mechanism but also as a
normal means of locomotion, and for catching its prey in flight. High
-speed cinematography used to analyse the various phases of the jump s
uggests that Harpegnathos employs a novel jumping mechanism to mediate
these behaviours: namely the synchronous activation of its middle and
hindlegs. Electrophysiological recordings from muscles or nerves in p
airs of middle and hindlegs show remarkably synchronous activity durin
g fictive jumping, supporting the synchronous activation hypothesis. H
arpegnathos is not the only ant to jump, and a cladistic analysis sugg
ests that jumping behaviour evolved independently three times during a
nt evolutionary history.