How do bugs use wings to fly (BioE80 Spr15)
May 26, 2015 • 10:22 AM UTC
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maddiehawkinson
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Bug Flight: Wind-Sailing?
While outside, it seemed crazy to compare a bug and an airplane flying over. We began to wonder how the bug wing was designed to make bugs steer and fly. So, we set out on a mission to find a bug and investigate.
We looked for a bug with large wings—and a bug that wouldn’t fly away immediately when we acquired him! Putting the bug on the slides, we held the bug up to the sun to see the wing.
While outside, it seemed crazy to compare a bug and an airplane flying over. We began to wonder how the bug wing was designed to make bugs steer and fly. So, we set out on a mission to find a bug and investigate.
We looked for a bug with large wings—and a bug that wouldn’t fly away immediately when we acquired him! Putting the bug on the slides, we held the bug up to the sun to see the wing.
To view video, click here .
We noticed (numbers match with the arrows and numbers on the image):
1. Wing has one slightly longer edge, allowing the wing to work like a rudder for turning
2.Thick edges
3. Thick veins or muscles on the outside, perhaps to control strength of wing flap
4. Larger spots nearer the outside of the wing, perhaps meaning those cells have nucleuses (like cell brains)
5. Less layers towards inside of wing, wing can act like a sail by filling with air while the outside steers.
Bugs use their wings more like a boat sail than a plane. Because the outside of the wing is thick, with more power and the ability to turn, it controls the wing and receives messages to move while the inside fills with air.
Although this is a fascinating machine, we wonder if there might be a more efficient way of flying. How can bugs avoid wing tears? Could bugs still fly with airplane wings?
Contributors: Chris Fernandes and Maddie Hawkinson
We noticed (numbers match with the arrows and numbers on the image):
1. Wing has one slightly longer edge, allowing the wing to work like a rudder for turning
2.Thick edges
3. Thick veins or muscles on the outside, perhaps to control strength of wing flap
4. Larger spots nearer the outside of the wing, perhaps meaning those cells have nucleuses (like cell brains)
5. Less layers towards inside of wing, wing can act like a sail by filling with air while the outside steers.
Bugs use their wings more like a boat sail than a plane. Because the outside of the wing is thick, with more power and the ability to turn, it controls the wing and receives messages to move while the inside fills with air.
Although this is a fascinating machine, we wonder if there might be a more efficient way of flying. How can bugs avoid wing tears? Could bugs still fly with airplane wings?
Contributors: Chris Fernandes and Maddie Hawkinson
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