Gallery: Drop-Dodging Mosquitoes

News
By published

Drop-Dodging Mosquito

A mosquito and water droplets.

(Image credit: Hu Laboratory for Biolocomotion, Georgia Tech)

Crushing Blow

Mosquito and a falling water drop.

(Image credit: Hu Laboratory for Biolocomotion, Georgia Tech)

Being hit by a drop on a solid surface is fatal for mosquitoes.

MIdair Collisions

Mosquito and a falling water drop.

(Image credit: Hu Laboratory for Biolocomotion, Georgia Tech)

In midair, drops don't splash on mosquitoes. Instead, the mosquitoes tumble along with the droplets, eventually disengaging and flying away unharmed.

Article continues below

Water Drops

Mosquito and a falling water drop.

(Image credit: Hu Laboratory for Biolocomotion, Georgia Tech)

Droplets transfer only 10 percent of their force onto a flying mosquito.

Raindrops Falling On My Head

Mosquito and a falling water drop.

(Image credit: Hu Laboratory for Biolocomotion, Georgia Tech)

Most likely, mosquitoes try to seek shelter during rainstorms, according to study researcher David Hu.

Falling Water

Mosquito and a falling water drop.

(Image credit: Hu Laboratory for Biolocomotion, Georgia Tech)

Mosquitoes' ability to survive may inspire designs for insect-sized flying robotics.

Balancing Act

Mosquito and a falling water drop.

(Image credit: Hu Laboratory for Biolocomotion, Georgia Tech)

A mosquito braces for the moment of impact.

Mosquito Free-Fall

Mosquito and a falling water drop.

(Image credit: Hu Laboratory for Biolocomotion, Georgia Tech)

As long as mosquitoes fly high enough so they can detach from a falling drop before hitting the ground, they easily survive being hit.

Stephanie Pappas
Stephanie Pappas
Live Science Contributor

Stephanie Pappas is a contributing writer for Live Science, covering topics ranging from geoscience to archaeology to the human brain and behavior. She was previously a senior writer for Live Science but is now a freelancer based in Denver, Colorado, and regularly contributes to Scientific American and The Monitor, the monthly magazine of the American Psychological Association. Stephanie received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of South Carolina and a graduate certificate in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz.