The wing movements of flying locusts during steering behaviour

Abstract

1. A flight balance is described which provides freedom for the flying locust to roll, yaw and move laterally (Fig. 1). 2. High-speed film taken from various angles of locusts manoeuvering in radial and laminar wind tunnels reveals considerable variations in phase, amplitude and pronation, particularly in the forewings, but forewing pronation is the only variable that can be reliably correlated with turning. 3. Flying locusts stimulated by a light lateral to their flight direction make a banked turn towards the light (Fig. 11). 4. Wing, leg and abdomen movements producing these banked turns are identical to those causing attempted yaw turns, and hence roll and yaw are produced by the same wing and body motions. The animal has no way of isolating yaw and roll components.