Kids Ask Dr. Bug

about the curious things found in the garden

How are ants so strong?

Ants are super strong – they can lift 10 to 50 times their own weight, and likely a lot more. Counterintuitively, they are so strong because they are so small. Being so small, as well as the shape and structure of their multilayered exoskeleton, allow the ants to use their powerful muscles to carry heavy things while their external skeleton distributes the weight, so it doesn’t crush them. Compared to other insects, ants even have larger muscles relative to their body size. They can also work in groups to carry their food and build nests.

This super strength is something that has fascinated people for a long time. When I was a kid, I would sometimes see if I could get ants to carry things and how much they could carry. Sometimes, when the object was too big for an individual ant, she still found a way to move it by dragging it or recruiting some of her nestmates to help either break it down into smaller pieces or work together to move it.

While movies have been made about supersized ants taking over the world, it is a relief to know that their superstrength does not scale up. They need to be small so they can get enough oxygen, and so the oxygen can make it through their bodies. Also, their exoskeleton would become too heavy if they were much bigger. Their strength vs. size is also something being studied by scientists and engineers and this research could lead to micro-sized robots that can be used to help humans.

Why do mosquito bites itch?

In order to maximize her effort, and for you not to notice that a mosquito is biting you and sucking your blood, this tiny fly injects a chemical with her saliva, called an anticoagulant, to prevent your blood from clotting and makes it easy to suck. Unfortunately, most people have a slight allergic reaction and produce their own chemicals, called histamines, to “protect” them from the mosquito’s chemical. This causes the area around the bite to become red, swollen, and itchy. Wash bites with soapy water and add an anti-itch cream to keep you from scratching. If you develop a fever or feel ill after getting a mosquito bite, see your doctor. Mosquitoes can also share viruses and parasites in their saliva that cause diseases. This video gives more information about what happens when a mosquito bites: https://youtu. be/HZFmlBTYGSQ (or scan the QR code).

Male cicadas create sound by vibrating part of their body called the tympanic membrane.

How do water striders walk on water?

Water is an amazing substance! For many heavy things when dropped onto water, they will just slip through the surface and sink. However, the molecules on and near the surface of water stick together tightly and resist coming apart. This is called surface tension and is what makes it possible for some objects and animals, even with their higher density, to float or walk on top. Water striders also have hydrophobic legs, which means that they repel water, and they have special hair that protects them from getting wet. Finally, all these characteristics combined with the water strider’s carefully distributed weight, keep the bugs safely skating on top of the water.

How do cicadas chirp?

Insects do not have vocal cords. Instead, they use other body parts in fascinating ways to create sound. Male cicadas have a body part called a tympanic membrane, which, when it vibrates causes an incredibly loud, 10-second-long chirp. Males make this sound, typically in the evening, to attract a mate. They will also make the sound if you get too close.

Other insects use different body parts to make sound. Crickets use a scraper on their hind legs to rub a special structure on the edge of their wings. Grasshoppers can make snapping sounds with their wings when they fly. And, tree hoppers vibrate plant stems to “talk” to other tree hoppers. However, we can’t hear tree hoppers without special tools. We are still learning about how insects communicate with each other – there is so much to discover!

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TAMRA REALL Horticulture Specialist

Dr. Tamra Reall (@MUExtBugN Garden) is the horticulture specialist for MU Extension in Jackson County. For free, research-based gardening tips, call 816-833-TREE (8733), email mggkc.hotline@gmail.com, or visit www.extension2.missouri.edu.