Abstract

The mechanics of Dipteran thorax is dictated by a network of exoskeletal linkages that, when deformed by the flight muscles, generate coordinated wing movements. In Diptera, the forewings power flight, whereas the hindwings have evolved into specialized structures called halteres, which provide rapid mechanosensory feedback for flight stabilization. Although actuated by independent muscles, wing and haltere motion is precisely phase-coordinated at high frequencies. Because wingbeat frequency is a product of wing-thorax resonance, any wear-and-tear of wings or thorax should impair flight ability. How robust is the Dipteran flight system against such perturbations? Here, we show that wings and halteres are independently driven, coupled oscillators. We systematically reduced the wing length in flies and observed how wing-haltere synchronization was affected. The wing-wing system is a strongly coupled oscillator, whereas the wing-haltere system is weakly coupled through mechanical linkages that synchronize phase and frequency. Wing-haltere link acts in a unidirectional manner; altering wingbeat frequency affects haltere frequency, but not vice versa. Exoskeletal linkages are thus key morphological features of the Dipteran thorax that ensure wing-haltere synchrony, despite severe wing damage.

Highlights

  • IntroductionThe Dipteran order encompasses a vast repertoire of flight types ranging from the exquisite hovering and maneuvering ability of hoverflies, to the stable trajectories of mosquitoes and rapid territorial chases in houseflies (Land and Collett, 1974)

  • Flies are among the best exemplars of aerial agility

  • We show that the phase and frequency of wings and haltere motion are mechanically coupled by thoracic linkages, thereby imparting robustness of wing-wing and wing-haltere coordination against damage or wear-and-tear

Read more

Summary

Introduction

The Dipteran order encompasses a vast repertoire of flight types ranging from the exquisite hovering and maneuvering ability of hoverflies, to the stable trajectories of mosquitoes and rapid territorial chases in houseflies (Land and Collett, 1974) Such complex maneuvers require precise and rapid control, guided by sensory feedback from multiple modalities (Bender and Dickinson, 2006; Heide and Götz, 1996; Hengstenberg, 1993; Pringle, 1948; Sherman and Dickinson, 2003; Trimarchi and Schneiderman, 1995). Mechanical strain in the haltere shaft due to Coriolis torques is sensed by multiple fields of campaniform sensillae distributed around its base These encode the stroke-by-stroke status of aerial rotations and provide mechanosensory feedback to the wing muscles (Fayyazuddin and Dickinson, 1996; Yarger and Fox, 2018). This precise phase coordination is maintained at wingbeat frequencies that far exceed

Methods
Findings
Conclusion
Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call