Snow flies amputate their legs to survive in cold / Curr. Biol., Sept. 26, 2023 (Vol. 33, Issue 21)

The snow fly, Chionea, is one of the only insects that remains active through the winter in snowy environments. Using thermal imaging, Golding et al. show that snow flies walk at sub-zero temperatures that incapacitate other insects. They also discovered that snow flies detect internal ice formation and self-amputate legs to avoid death by freezing.
Check out the paper at www.cell.com/cu....
D. Golding, K.L. Rupp, A. Sustar, B. Pratt, and J.C. Tuthill (2023). Snow flies self-amputate freezing limbs to sustain behavior at sub-zero temperatures. Curr. Biol. 33.
And read more great research at www.cell.com/cu....

[@omikawadhwa1759]

Do snow flies have a preference for which legs they amputate first?

[@moterinsun]

That's pretty incredible! So glad that you guys were able to have public participation with your study! Was completely unaware of this species until this video, as I don't live in an area with much snow!

[@praseethak5356]

😍😍😍

[@musicjunk8266]

Torturing creatures in the same of science?

[@praseethak5356]

Does amputating legs helps to decrease the amount of cold reach the body through the legs?

[@annesustar9484]

Yes, when the snow fly pops off its leg, it prevents ice crystals from spreading up to its body.