kearunning: khrysdiebee:b33tl3b0y:lovely palmetto tortoise beetle sons. look at their sweet feet
kearunning: khrysdiebee: b33tl3b0y: lovely palmetto tortoise beetle sons. look at their sweet feets, look at their darling dimples LOOK AT THE LITTLE FEET These little feet are not only pretty, they are extremely functional! Like a gecko, this tortoise beetle (Hemisphaerota cyaneae) sticks to surfaces using many many tiny hairs on it’s feet! The hairs are coated in oil, and the combined surface tension of the oil keeps the beetle stuck down. When faced with danger (Ants!), the beetle clamps down and will not be moved. I remembered reading this in a book once, and after a bit of research I found it! In Tomas Eisner’s For Love of Insects, (phenomenal book, btw), he showcases an experiment where researchers tested the strength of this little beetle’s feet using a pulley system, wax, and a succession of larger weights. The beetle was able to withstand 2g of lift-pressure, 148x its own body weight! So yes, please do look at their feet, they are really amazing. -- source link
#not tarantulas