Aerodynamics of the Smallest Flying Insects

TL;DR

This paper investigates the aerodynamics of some of the smallest flying insects, analyzing their flight at low Reynolds numbers and observing differences in wake structures and force ratios compared to larger insects like fruit flies.

Contribution

It provides fluid dynamics videos and analysis of the flight of tiny insects, highlighting how wake structures and force ratios vary at different low Reynolds numbers.

Findings

Differences in wake structures among insect species.

Variation in lift-to-drag force ratios.

Flight dynamics at low Reynolds numbers.

Abstract

We present fluid dynamics videos of the flight of some of the smallest insects including the jewel wasp, \textit{Ampulex compressa}, and thrips, \textit{Thysanoptera} spp. The fruit fly, \textit{Drosophila melanogaster}, is large in comparison to these insects. While the fruit fly flies at $Re \approx 120$, the jewel wasp flies at $Re \approx 60$, and thrips flies at $Re \approx 10$. Differences in the general structures of the wakes generated by each species are observed. The differences in the wakes correspond to changes in the ratio of lift forces (vertical component) to drag forces (horizontal component) generated.