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Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol 115, Issue 1 293-304, Copyright © 1985 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Power and efficiency of insect flight muscle

CP Ellington

The efficiency and mechanical power output of insect flight muscle have been estimated from a study of hovering flight. The maximum power output, calculated from the muscle properties, is adequate for the aerodynamic power requirements. However, the power output is insufficient to oscillate the wing mass as well unless there is good elastic storage of the inertial energy, and this is consistent with reports of elastic components in the flight system. A comparison of the mechanical power output with the metabolic power input to the flight muscles suggests that the muscle efficiency is quite low: less than 10%.

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