Insect Struts

Trying to get the balance and speed right for any walking creature in animation is difficult, but it seems that the more legs it has the worse it gets. I should have storyboarded a snake rather than ants and spiders for this latest project!
I've found some really great research on the web (pardon the spider pun) by roboticists, entomologists and fellow animators though. Animating and illustrating does help you to broaden your horizons. It's hard to know how to draw something or make something move without examining every aspect of it. Nature documentaries are taking over my life.
Credit and thanks to these guys for aiding my current creepy crawlie obsession: http://www.mindcreators.com/insectlocomotion.htm