A flea beetle can stick a perfect landing

Abstract When we flip a coin, we expect a 50 percent chance of it landing on heads. But what happens when an insect jumps? In this study, we report the self-righting strategy of the flea beetle, Altica cirsicola, which lives in a dense maze of leaves. How can the flea beetle coordinate landing on surfaces of such a range of orientation and position? In this experimental study, we film the take-off, flight, and landing of flea beetles on a configurable angled platform. Dead flea beetles tossed through the air have a 46% chance of landing on their legs, similar to a fair coin. However, live beetles land successfully 85% of the time, suggesting the importance of active self-righting strategies to accommodate the different orientations of the landing platform. We observe that beetles may extend their wings to slow down and reduce impact as well as perform numerous rotations. These behaviors may inspire jumping robots that can land softly.