How Do Insects Fly?

Explore the fascinating world of insect flight and behavior in this comprehensive lecture by Sanjay P Sane and colleagues from the National Centre for Biological Sciences. Delve into the evolutionary success of insects, focusing on their ability to fly, adapt to diverse environments, and collectively alter their surroundings. Discover the interdisciplinary approach of the Insect Flight Lab, combining biomechanics, neurobiology, and ecophysiology to study insect flight and collective nest building. Learn about insect nervous systems, neuroethology, and fixed action patterns, and how researchers measure and analyze insect behaviors. Examine the intricacies of wing motion, yaw, and insect architecture, with a particular focus on termites. Take a virtual tour of the lab, including the wind tunnel used for experiments, and explore visual cues and behavior tracks. Investigate the unique features of moth antennae, the miniaturization of parasitic wasps, and the importance of Reynolds number in insect flight. Gain insights into the current concerns regarding global insect population declines and the importance of understanding these remarkable creatures.