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Flight motor modulation with speed in the hawkmoth Manduca sexta
Tyson L Hedrick1, Jorge Martínez-Blat1, Mariah J Goodman1
1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, USA.
Journal of Insect Physiology
|December 17, 2016
Summary
Large flying insects, like hawkmoths, demonstrate a U-shaped relationship between flight speed and power. This indicates that drag and power become limiting factors at higher flight speeds for these insects.
Area of Science:
- Animal flight biomechanics
- Insect physiology and aerodynamics
Background:
- Theoretical models predict a U-shaped or J-shaped relationship between flight speed and power for flapping-wing animal flight.
- Experimental data support this for birds and bats, but not insects, due to potential aerodynamic and physiological differences or experimental challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the flight speed-power relationship in insects.
- To quantify muscle activity modulation in hawkmoths during free flight across various speeds.
Main Methods:
- Electromyography was used to measure the activity of flight motor muscles (dorsolongitudinal and dorsoventral) in hawkmoths (Manduca sexta).
- Hawkmoths were studied during free flight in a wind tunnel across a range of speeds.
Main Results:
- Hawkmoths exhibit a U-shaped relationship between flight speed and power.
- A minimum power speed of 2 m/s was identified for hawkmoths.
- This suggests that drag and power limitations are significant at higher flight speeds in large insects.
Conclusions:
- Large flying insects, specifically hawkmoths, conform to the predicted U-shaped flight speed-power relationship.
- This finding highlights the importance of aerodynamic and power constraints in insect flight at higher velocities.
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