Zoology: Secrets of a miniature beetle's speedy flight

 
Coleoptera, Rove beetle, one of the smallest insects in the world The paper I wroteNature Will be published in.This finding is important for a better understanding of the evolution of flight on a small scale.

The flight speed of insects is generally determined by their body size, and larger insects can fly faster.The cause of these differences is usually a constraint due to air friction, which usually exceeds the flight force on very small scales.However, some small insects appear to violate this law.One example is the Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Common Hibiscus.Paratuposa placentis Its body size is less than half a millimeter (1 micrometers), but it can fly at the same speed as an insect that is three times as long.

This time, Alexey Polilov and othersP. placentis Integrates 3D reconstruction of wing structure and movement.The results show that this beetle has a bush-like wing, which is not only lighter than a membranous wing of the same size, but also behaves in a previously unknown manner. ..This beetle flapping cycle produces a large upward force with two wing downhills and then a small downward force with two slow launches, which is the amplitude of the flapping. Will increase.The wing sheath (hardened front wing) functions as a brake that suppresses excessive vibration of the torso.Also, because the bush-like wing does not appear to require as much strength as the heavier membranous wing requires, Polilov et al. Have found that the increase in muscle strength required for this unique cycle of movement It shows the idea of ​​being offset.

Polilov et al. Explain that such adaptations maintain such excellent flight performance in the process of miniaturization of small insects, and this adaptation is an important factor in the evolutionary success of small insects. We conclude that it may be.

 
* This article is reprinted from "Nature Japan Featured Highlights".
Reprinted from: "Zoology: The secret of a small beetle flying at high speed'