Flying in Two Dimensions

TL;DR

This paper investigates a unique two-dimensional flight mode of Waterlilly Beetles on water surfaces, analyzing the aerodynamics and forces involved, which differ significantly from traditional three-dimensional flight.

Contribution

It uncovers and analyzes the aerodynamics of 2D surface skimming flight in insects, highlighting additional forces like surface tension and capillary-wave drag.

Findings

2D flight involves forces beyond gravity, thrust, lift, and drag.

Significant differences in force magnitudes between 2D and 3D flight.

Insights into surface skimming as a potential origin of insect flight.

Abstract

Diversity and specialization of behavior in insects is unmatched. Insects hop, walk, run, jump, row, swim, glide and fly to propel themselves in a variety of environments. We have uncovered an unusual mode of propulsion of aerodynamic flight in two dimensions in Waterlilly Beetles \emph{(Galerucella)}. The adult beetles, often found in water lilly ponds, propel themselves strictly in a two-dimensional plane on the surface of water via flapping wing flight. Here we analyze the aerodynamics of this peculiar flight mode with respect to forces exerted on the organism during flight. The complexity of 2-D flight is captured by accounting for additional forces beyond gravitational, thrust, lift and drag, exerted on the insect body in 3D flight. Understanding this constrained propulsion mode requires accounting for viscous drag, surface tension, buoyancy force, and capillary-wave drag. Moreover, dramatic differences exist in the magnitude of the resultant forces in 2D vs. 3D flight. Here, in this fluid dynamics video, we discuss this unusual 2D flight mode via kinematic and non-dimensional analysis comparing it to 3D flight and draw generalized lessons towards understanding surface skimming based origin of flight in insects.