How do the wings of an insect allow it to fly (BioE80)
May 26, 2015 • 12:25 AM UTC
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ChangChristine
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I have often observed insects in flight. Maybe they aren’t quite as majestic as eagles are even seagulls, and nowhere near as fast, but they are capable of sustained flight. Moreover, they’re very good at tight maneuvers midair. But an insects wings are look transparent, brittle, and extraordinarily fragile, so I was curious as to how delicate insect wings allowed them to fly.
Fortunately in the engineering quad, there were numerous flying insects to study due to the abundance of flowers. After unfortunately killing an insect for study, I was able to scrutinize an insect with wings, as well as its wings alone.
An insects wings still transparent and fragile under a lens.
Fortunately in the engineering quad, there were numerous flying insects to study due to the abundance of flowers. After unfortunately killing an insect for study, I was able to scrutinize an insect with wings, as well as its wings alone.
An insects wings still transparent and fragile under a lens.
But they are designed to be slim and efficient for tight maneuvers and minimal drag when an insect flies.
http://blogs.bu.edu/bioaerial2012/2012/12/05/insects-how-their-wings-work/
They are also joined quite solidly to the insect body, so that the insect has maximal control over its wing movements.
They are also joined quite solidly to the insect body, so that the insect has maximal control over its wing movements.
They are made of solid yet flexible material, strengthened with veins. This way, its wings don’t break midflight, but can propel the insect forward or backward by pushing back on air without any leakage.
And if you look closely enough, there are little hairs on its wings. These little hairs can “grab” on the air as the insect flaps its wings, and push the insect through the air even better.
Overall, from my observations, insect wings are fragile for flexibility, but are sufficiently strengthened with veins. This way, they are strong enough to push the insect through the air in flight. The wings also have small hairs on them to maximize wing surface area to air ratio for better propelling through the air. With higher magnification, I’d like to study the wing cells and surface texture more closely for further information.
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