Summary: Skydiving Ants REPLAY Episode 7 - by Lesley Evans Ogden (Click here to directly access the MP3) Ants have recently been added to the list of organisms known to be able to steer while skydiving, without using wings, webs, or parachutes. They just use their limbs and body to direct their fall. Find out how ants fall from the tree tops with style. More information about Directed Aerial Descent in insects: Click here to see videos of skydiving ants. Yanoviak, S.P., Y. Munk, and R. Dudley. 2011. Evolution and Ecology of Directed Aerial Descent in Arboreal Ants. Integr. Comp. Biol. pp 1-13 doi: 10.1093/icb/icr006 Yanoviak, S.P., M. Kaspari, and R. Dudley. 2009. Gliding hexapods and the origins of insect aerial behavior. Biol. Lett. 5:510–2. Yanoviak, S.P., Y. Munk, M. Kaspari, and R. Dudley. 2010. Aerial manoeuverability in wingless gliding ants (Cephalotes atra- tus). Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B. 277:2199–204. Dr. Steven Yanoviak’s research focuses on tropical arthropods, including gliding ants. Lesley Evans Ogden, PhD is a freelance science journalist based in Vancouver, BC. Trained as a wildlife ecologist researching the ecology and conservation of migratory birds, she now writes about animal behaviour, ecology, wildlife conservation, green innovation, sustainability, health and fitness. Lesley is an alumna of the 2011 Banff Science Communications Program. More of her writing can be found at lesleyevansogden.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ljevanso.
