I aim to study and compare the flight of four species of miniature insects from four different orders (Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, and Thysanoptera).
Specifically, I will ask the following questions:
1) What are the flight speed and flight endurance of these insects? How do they cope with wind?
2) How does wing flapping kinematics vary between different modes of flight? Does the flapping kinematics differ from that of larger insects?
3) How do miniature insects cope with turbulence? What are the size scales of turbulence that they can deal with?
To answer these questions, I plan to record flight in wind tunnels (horizontal and vertical) using high-speed cameras to measure flight speed and endurance for long flights. I will also record wing motions to extract the flapping kinematics of each species. The results will enable me to identify converging and diverging patterns associated with miniaturization of flying insects and flight at low Reynolds numbers.
Specifically, I will ask the following questions:
1) What are the flight speed and flight endurance of these insects? How do they cope with wind?
2) How does wing flapping kinematics vary between different modes of flight? Does the flapping kinematics differ from that of larger insects?
3) How do miniature insects cope with turbulence? What are the size scales of turbulence that they can deal with?
To answer these questions, I plan to record flight in wind tunnels (horizontal and vertical) using high-speed cameras to measure flight speed and endurance for long flights. I will also record wing motions to extract the flapping kinematics of each species. The results will enable me to identify converging and diverging patterns associated with miniaturization of flying insects and flight at low Reynolds numbers.
Amir's MSc thesis appendices
Index of movies filmed with a single camera in the UV attraction experiment
| uv_light_attraction_summary.pdf |
Index of movies filmed with 2 cameras in the wind condition experiment
| windflight_summary.pdf |
