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Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol 183, Issue 1 249-277, Copyright © 1993 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

PERFORMANCE OF A BUTTERFLY IN TAKE-OFF FLIGHT

S. Sunada, K. Kawachi, I. Watanabe and A. Azuma

The flight of a butterfly, Pieris melete, was observed in the take-off phase and was analyzed theoretically from aerodynamic and kinetic viewpoints. A vortex method, which was recently developed by the present authors, was used in this analysis. During the downstroke, the butterfly generates mainly a vertical force. The acceleration of the butterfly's body during the first half of the downstroke is especially large, and this acceleration is mainly caused by a large unsteady pressure drag acting on the wings. This large unsteady pressure drag is generated by the vortices shed into the flow from the outer edges of each wing of a pair; it is increased by the interference effect between a pair of wings when the opening angle is small. This force can be estimated by the previous quasi-steady analysis when the force coefficient is changed to 4. In addition to the unsteady pressure drag, an aerodynamic force due to added mass is generated and this is also increased by the interference effect between a pair of wings. During the upstroke the butterfly generates mainly a horizontal force. The change of direction of the forces during the down- and upstrokes is controlled by variation in the inclination of the stroke plane. The moment, which is created by the aerodynamic force acting on the wings and by abdominal motion, changes the thoracic angle, that is the inclination of the stroke plane.


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© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1993