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Flight Morphology and Flight Muscles

55

with their attached muscles help in flapping and rotation. Direct and indirect muscles

have been described in detail, which help in wing movements.

Flight parameters of body and wing contribute to the basic understanding of

insect flight and its novelty. Some aerodynamics terms have been defined clearly

for the sake of convenience and clarity. Wingbeat frequencies of insects, forward

velocity and flight parameters have been summarized. It has to be emphasized that

flight parameters of two pentatomid bugs such as Tessaratoma javanica and Chro

purpureus have been studied in all the possible details so that this may possibly help

and inspire for the design of bio-mimicking MAVs [1].

Differences between neurogenic and myogenic fliers, the basis of muscle contrac-

tion and energetics have been explained briefly. Oxidation of bio-molecules has been

briefly summarized in the form of a (Table 4.7).

Insect flight muscle and cardiac muscle appear to contract rhythmically but differ-

ently. The Ca²⁺ sensitivity of cardiac and flight muscle (water bug, Lethocerus) can

be manipulated experimentally. The cardiac and flight muscle have thick and thin fila-

ments adapted for oscillatory mechanical movements (Belinda Bullard and Analisa

Pastore, JA Muscle Res. Cell Motil, 2019). This has been further supported by recent

research articles (2021).

References

1. Chari. (2014). Bio-aerodynamics of Avian Flight. NDRF, Banglore, India.

2. Chapman, R. F. (1998). The insects: Structure and function, 3rd edn. Cambridge University

Press.

3. Chadwick, L. E. (1953). Aerodynamics and flight metabolism. In K.D. Roeder (Ed.), Insect

physiology. New York: Wiley.