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The natural flight of the migratory locust,Locusta migratoria L.

II. Gliding

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Summary

  1. 1.

    High speed film of naturally flyingLocusta migratoria has revealed gliding in these animals.

  2. 2.

    Glides last from a few milliseconds up to about one third of a second.

  3. 3.

    The glide always starts when the forewings reach the top of their stroke; the hindwings stop at the same instant although they have already started their downstroke.

  4. 4.

    The basic wing positions during the glide are described.

  5. 5.

    A lift drag ratio of 1.7∶1 has been calculated, and a minimum sinking rate of just over 2 m/s has been measured.

  6. 6.

    Glides commence with a positive body angle of up to 30° but this is rapidly reduced during the glide as the animal pitches forward.

  7. 7.

    Glides tend to end when the animal is diving, i.e. with a negative body angle.

  8. 8.

    The end of a glide is heralded by the hindwings moving downwards, followed by the forewings. Body angles are restored to a positive value very quickly after the end of a glide.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Overseas Pest Research, College House, Wrights Lane, W8 5SJ, London, UK

    P. S. Baker & R. J. Cooter

Authors
  1. P. S. Baker
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  2. R. J. Cooter
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Additional information

We thank Dr. R.F. Chapman, Prof. M. Gewecke and Dr. P.L. Millerfor critically reading the manuscript. The field observations were made possible with generous assistance from the Department of Entomology, CSIRO, Canberra, and DASF, Bubia, Papua New Guinea. Special thanks are due to Dr. R.A. Farrow and sraff of the Locust Section, CSIRO.

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Baker, P.S., Cooter, R.J. The natural flight of the migratory locust,Locusta migratoria L.. J. Comp. Physiol. 131, 89–94 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00613087

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00613087

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