The Super Invisible Bug Highway

Look up at the sky and what do you see? Well, blue, yes. And maybe a plane or a bird, but otherwise … nothing. Or so you think. It turns out that right above you, totally invisible, is an enormous herd of animal life — tiny bugs riding the wind currents.
~ NPR On YouTube

I saw this on NPR and absolutely had to share. It’s all science and nature and entertaining and I learned something and I love ALL that stuff.

You’ve seen birds use updrafts to soar high in the clouds. These pockets of heated warm air can help large birds, like Turkey Vultures gain lift on wind currents so they don’t have use all their energy flapping their big wings. Not to mention big birds like this can weigh up to 5lbs or more.

Now imagine that same updraft if you a tiny little ladybug. You might not ride on the wind current totally on purpose as much as simply getting caught in the updraft and being carried away. How high could a little ladybug go? Pretty high actually, but they’re not the highest fliers! Take a look at this:

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