Ant uses spring-loaded jaw to jump

An ant species has been filmed using its powerful spring-loaded jaws to launch itself into the air to escape predators.

The trap-jaw ant or genus Odontomachus has long been known for its ability to hurl other invading species into the air.

But researchers were stunned when they captured the insects turning the tables on themselves, giving them a significantly better chance for survival.

In the footage, the team places the test subject in a sand-filled cup with a 1cm-long burrowing insect known as an antlion at the bottom.

During their larval stage, the antlion burrow deep into the sand, forming a trap for unfortunate ants who venture too close.

But the trap-jaw ant, pre-empting the attack, spreads its mandibles apart before snapping them together at speeds of up to 230km/h, blasting itself into the air and out of harm's way.

The researchers noted that not all jumps resulted in escape.

Out of 117 trials, the ants jumped their way to safety about 15 percent of the time and doubled their odds of survival by doing so, the team reports today in PLOS ONE.

Source: PLOS ONE