Digitization data

Digitalized data from ten individuals (adults, juveniles and newborns) jumping on smooth, wavy and bubbly water surfaces. Files ( *_xyzpts.csv) have the following 3D digitized points in Cartesian system XYZ in cm. For adults and juveniles: Point 1 (head tip), Point 2 (abdomen tip), point 3 (left rear-leg tip), point 4 (left middle-leg tip), point 5 (left front-leg tip), point 6 (left middle-leg base), point 7 (right middle-leg base), point 8 (right rear-leg tip),point 9 (right middle-leg tip). For new-born striders: Point 1 (head tip), Point 2 (abdomen tip), point 3 (left middle-leg tip), point 4 (right middle-leg tip), point 5 (left rear-leg tip), point 6 (right rear-leg tip), point 7 (left middle-leg base), point 8 (right middle-leg base). Digitalization software is described in: Hedrick, T. L. (2008). Software techniques for two- and three-dimensional kinematic measurements of biological and biomimetic systems. Bioinspir. Biomim. 3, 034001

kinematic data of thrips during meniscus-climbing

Time series of instantaneous body position, speed and acceleration of thrips during meniscus ascent on variable sucrose solutions (Brix)

Video 2: thrips turning maneuvers from Meniscus ascent by thrips (Thysanoptera)

Meniscus climbing using a fixed body posture has been well documented for various aquatic and neustonic insects, but is not known from small flying insects that inadvertently become trapped on water surfaces. Here, we show that thrips (Order Thysanoptera) can ascend a meniscus by arching their non-wetting bodies to translate head-first and upward along a water surface; if initially oriented backwards, they can turn by 180° to ascend head-first, and climb upward on a surrounding boundary. Using variable-concentration sucrose solutions, we show that translational and climbing speeds during meniscus ascent vary inversely with fluid viscosity. Becoming trapped in water is a frequent event for flying insects, and given that most of them are very small, dedicated behaviors to escape water may be commonplace among pterygotes

Wavy surface

Video that shows the wave-dominated water surface

Smooth surface

Video that shows the smooth water surface

Waterstriders dataset

Dataset of three age-classes of water striders (n=10) moving on smooth, wave-dominated, and bubble-dominated water surfaces. Columns indicate the individual's label, age, treatment, distance d (cm), maximal height h (cm), stroke angle α (º), stroke duration ts (s), pitch β (º), yaw γ (º), roll ψ (º). average speed um (cm/s), peak speed up (cm/s), average acceleration am (cm/s^2), body mass mb (mg) and body length lb (cm). Variables divided by the body length (lb) represent normalized data

Contact angles and plot of speed vs. 1/viscosity from Meniscus ascent by thrips (Thysanoptera)

Meniscus climbing using a fixed body posture has been well documented for various aquatic and neustonic insects, but is not known from small flying insects that inadvertently become trapped on water surfaces. Here, we show that thrips (Order Thysanoptera) can ascend a meniscus by arching their non-wetting bodies to translate head-first and upward along a water surface; if initially oriented backwards, they can turn by 180° to ascend head-first, and climb upward on a surrounding boundary. Using variable-concentration sucrose solutions, we show that translational and climbing speeds during meniscus ascent vary inversely with fluid viscosity. Becoming trapped in water is a frequent event for flying insects, and given that most of them are very small, dedicated behaviors to escape water may be commonplace among pterygotes

Video 1: meniscus-ascent from Meniscus ascent by thrips (Thysanoptera)

Meniscus climbing using a fixed body posture has been well documented for various aquatic and neustonic insects, but is not known from small flying insects that inadvertently become trapped on water surfaces. Here, we show that thrips (Order Thysanoptera) can ascend a meniscus by arching their non-wetting bodies to translate head-first and upward along a water surface; if initially oriented backwards, they can turn by 180° to ascend head-first, and climb upward on a surrounding boundary. Using variable-concentration sucrose solutions, we show that translational and climbing speeds during meniscus ascent vary inversely with fluid viscosity. Becoming trapped in water is a frequent event for flying insects, and given that most of them are very small, dedicated behaviors to escape water may be commonplace among pterygotes

Bubbly surface

Video that shows the bubble-dominated water surface

Raw data and R code for plotting

Data and R code to produce figure 2, which gives (a) Percent righting (N=26 birds, number of drops as indicated) and (b) righting mode (N=26 birds, number of successful rightings as indicated), and (c) vertical force production (N=5 birds, except for N=1 at 14 dph; data represent mean ± 1 s.d.) versus age in Chukar Partridge. Righting via roll, as accomplished by asymmetric wing and leg movements, is used prior to 14 dph. Around 9 dph, birds switch to righting via pitch using symmetric wing motions, and vertical force production increases concomitantly