From thegoblin sharkto thegrey go - away - razzing , many animal ’s names dead catch their sum . But few soubriquet are as appropriate — or delightful — as that of the boogie - woogie aphid . These tiny critters are nicknamed for an strange defense mechanism , and as you could see from the video above , their moves are infective .
The boogie-woogie - woogie aphid — or thebeech blight aphid(Grylloprociphilus imbricator ) , as it ’s known officially — was the subject of a recentReddit postby useru / your_name_here _ _ _ . In the viral video , the fluffy , white insect perform a synchronized “ dance ” by lift up their rear ending and shake them from side to side . It may count like fun , but these insects maybe be gyrating for their lives .
grant toNewsweek , the aphid only put on a show in response to perceived threat . When they sense an inflow of carbon dioxide in the expanse , perhaps from an brute ’s breath , they drop what they ’re doing to flourish their buttocks in the air . The choreography does n’t make harm , but if the bugs are lucky , the predator will be confused enough to back off . And by dancing together , the louse signal that they ’re aware of the intruder ’s presence and more defensive manoeuvre may be coming . ( But to hiker who trip up upon them in the Mrs. Henry Wood within the eastern part of the United States , do n’t worry : These bugs are all boogie and no chomp . )
If a bird or other insectivore is n’t fooled by their display , beech blight aphids have one last line of defence . The whitened strand on their bodies are actuallystrands of waxthey produce throughout the summertime . When a predator goes after this part , they sting into a clump of wax and give the insect a chance to get aside unharmed . The furry , white-hot part also double as a stylish discotheque outfit .
[ h / tNewsweek ]
