The gears belong to the juvenileSourced
Young Issus synchronise their jumping legs mechanically
Nymphs of Issus coleoptratus have intermeshing gear-like teeth at the bases of their hind legs. They keep the legs synchronised during a jump, preventing unwanted rotation. The structures are shed before adulthood.
A biological gear is a juvenile feature here.
Summary / translation: Unbubly · CC BY-SA 4.0
Source and reuse details
Issus coleoptratus · Wikimedia contributors
Adapted, summarized and translated from the source. Adapted text is also available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Reviewed: 2026-10-05