4
Flight Morphology and Flight Muscles
51
Table 4.2 Comparisionb of typical wingbeat frequencies of different insects
S. No
Primitive fliers
(Neurogenic-Synchronous)
Advanced fliers (Myogenic-Asynchronous)
Type of flier
Wingbeat frequency
(cps/Hz)
Type of flier
Wingbeat frequency
(cps/Hz)
1
Large butter fly
10
Soapnut bug (T.j)a
50
2
Damselfly
16
Chrysocoris
100
3
Cockroach
20
Bumblebee
130
4
Locust
25
Housefly
190
5
Scorpionfly
28
Honey bee
250
6
Dragonfly
40
Mosquito
600
7
Humming Moth
85
Forcipomia
1000
aLow ϑh observed in T.j due to secondary adaptations since primarily T.j is a myogenic flier hence
the frequency is 50Hz
bFrom various sources
The small insects are observed to have a higher frequency in contrast to bigger
fliers. The wingbeat frequencies of some of the fliers given in Table 4.2 are modified
after [2] and [1]. The wingbeat frequency of some of the fliers is as follows:
Table 4.3 reads detailed flight parameters measured and calculated for
Tessaratoma javanica (T.j) and Chrysocoris purpureus (C.p) for a better under-
standing and comparison. The parameters selected here also may form the quan-
titative basis for the experimental design of Insect Mimicking MAVs based on
bio-mimicking principles.
Typical forward velocities of some common insects have been shown in Table
4.4.
Based on Table 4.5 of the flight parameters, the derived flight features of the
above insects can be understood and calculated which help in understanding the
natural flight of these fliers.
Moment of Inertia studies have been carried on insect wings by using the strip
analysis method, which may give a general idea of lift, thrust and distribution of mass
and area in relation to wing strips as counted from the fulcrum. The study of MI helps
in understanding the properties of moving bodies including insects (more details are
discussed in Chap. 6). Insect flapping flexible wing is peculiar in the sense that the
upper part of the wing develops lift, the lower part thrust because of bending and
the tip develops induced drag (tip vortices). It is a thin tapering chitinous membrane
supported by longitudinal veins, which make it anisotropic and contribute to the
aeroelastic properties of the wing. The bending of the insect wing is a resultant of
uneven distribution of mass which decreases from fulcrum to the wing tip.