Footballers who wear stripes could learn from the animal kingdom to confuse their opponents – if they run fast enough.
Research released by scientists shows that creatures with stripes can confuse their predators by simply appearing when they proceed 22, to be fuzzy.
To find this out, scientists at Newcastle University played praying mantises footage of shapes developed to bugs, moving across a backdrop.
The movement was developed to be like the adventures of praying mantises.
The bugs, a few of which had stripes, would go at different speeds across the display .
Scientists discovered that the mantises found it tough to identify the bugs using stripes moving at faster speeds.
This is thought to be because the stripes around the creature become blurred to the predator and harder to observe when they proceed at speed.
While it’s been known for some time now that creatures camouflage by mixing into their environment, it’s the very first time that it has been demonstrated that a few animals gain from going to conceal themselves.
The research, Professor Candy Rowe’s lead author, explained that the speed and stripes are a winning combination in the wild.
“While we did this experiment with all praying mantises chasing rectangular bugs onto a computer display, the exact identical principle must apply from the wild,” he explained.
“So maybe stripes help to hide zebras running over the plains, or hoverflies flitting from flower to flower,” she said.Prof Rowe proceeded to say that footballers could benefit from the findings.
“So Newcastle United’s stripes could be assisting throw their opponents – as long as the players are running quickly enough,” she said.
Sir Alex Ferguson switched the gray off kit in half-time of Manchester United when they lost a game in 1996. The manager said he felt that they had been blending in with the audience and players were not able to earn out each other in the bright sun. Manchester United never wore that kit again.

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