ants can

Jump all the way

You will often find ants in places they cannot possibly reach by climbing. You must have wondered how they managed such an impossible feat. Scientists now have an answer; several species of ants are capable of hopping or leaping. Most ants usually leap only to escape predators but the Jerdon’s jumping ant, which is found in India, uses its jumping mechanism as a normal means of movement. According to Indian researchers, who used high-speed photography to study the ant species, the insects use their middle and hind legs to launch themselves into the air and jump a distance of 12 to 18 inches. The toxic jack jumper ant, which is native to Australia, jumps when agitated. The trap-jaw ant uses its overdeveloped jaws to propel itself into the air at speeds as high as 230 kilometres per hour. This allows the ant to strike its prey with a force equivalent to 300 times its body weight. High fliers for sure!

star time

Learn new things

If you are bored of sitting at home during the vacations, head to Starmark. The store is holding a five-day workshop at its Lord Sinha Road and City Centre branches in Calcutta. You will be taught to make paper masks on day one, book marks on day two and paper collages on day three. The workshop, which will be held between 11am and 12.30pm, will have monoprint painting on day four. On day five, children will be taught to make animal figures with paper cups and straws. For details, call 9903985097.