Non-Jumping Take off Performance in Beetle Flight (Rhinoceros Beetle Trypoxylus dichotomus)

doi:10.1016/S1672-6529(14)60020-2

Abstract

Abstract:

In recent decades, the take-off mechanisms of flying animals have received much attention in insect flight initiation. Most of previous works have focused on the jumping mechanism, which is the most common take-off mechanism found in flying animals. Here, we presented that the rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus, takes off without jumping. In this study, we used 3-Dimensional (3D) high-speed video techniques to quantitatively analyze the wings and body kinematics during the initiation periods of flight. The details of the flapping angle, angle of attack of the wings and the roll, pitch and yaw angles of the body were investigated to understand the mechanism of take-off in T. dichotomus. The beetle took off gradually with a small velocity and small acceleration. The body kinematic analyses showed that the beetle exhibited stable take-off. To generate high lift force, the beetle modulated its hind wing to control the angle of attack; the angle of attack was large during the upstroke and small during the downstroke. The legs of beetle did not contract and strongly release like other insects. The hind wing could be con-sidered as a main source of lift for heavy beetle.

Key words: take-off, non-jumping mechanism, rhinoceros beetle, kinematics

Tien Van Truong, Tuyen Quang Le, Hoon Cheol Park, Kwang Joon Yoon, Min Jun Kim, . Non-Jumping Take off Performance in Beetle Flight (Rhinoceros Beetle Trypoxylus dichotomus)[J].J4, 2014, 11(1): 61-71.

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