Passive aerodynamic stabilization by beetle elytra (wing covers)
1997
De Souza, M.M. | Alexander, D.E.
Most beetles extend their elytra laterally during flight, where they can act as fixed airfoils; typically, such elytra are held at a pronounced dihedral angle. We fixed extended elytra of June beetles (Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) and tiger beetles (Cicindelidae) over a range of dihedral angles (-10 degrees to 45 degrees) and towed them in a water tunnel. We also towed them with flexed elytra (i.e. in the resting position). (Reynolds number was used to maintain dynamic similarity with air.) We measured the maximum rolling angle and the lateral oscillation rate as two indices of stability. There was no relationship between oscillation rate and dihedral angle, or between maximum roll angle and dihedral angle. At all dihedral angles tested, however, beetles were much more stable than when they were towed with the elytra flexed. We also included a third beetle type, flower beetle (Scarabaeidae: Cetonime), which normally flies with flexed elytra. We measured stability indices for these beetles with elytra only in the flexed position. When all beetles were tested with flexed elytra, flower beetles showed no difference in maximum roll angle, but more stability in oscillation rate than the other two beetle types.
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