ballooning

arthropod locomotion

Learn about this topic in these articles:

gypsy moths

  • male spongy moth
    In spongy moth

    …the silk acts as a parasail, carrying the young larvae to new, uninfested trees to feed. When larval development is complete, they crawl down the tree trunk, settle in leaf litter at the base of the tree, and enter the pupal stage. The adult moth emerges from the cocoon after…

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spiders

  • lynx spider
    In spider: Distribution

    This behaviour, called ballooning, occurs in many families and expedites distribution. Some species are distributed in this way around the globe within the bounds of the northern jet stream. Ballooning spiders drift through the air at heights that range from 3 metres (10 feet) or less to more…

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  • lynx spider
    In spider: Maturation

    Many spiderlings eventually disperse by ballooning, usually in the fall.

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