The mechanism of the flight of the butterflies (and insects in general) is more complex than what it looks. A butterfly doesn’t fly like a bird or a plane even if it also uses the properties of the fluids flow maintain itself in the air. This special mechanism allows them to hover, which most birds are struggling to perform.
Contrary to popular beliefs, insects do not flap their wings up and down, but almost on a horizontal plane from the front to theback (aside dragonflies). This movement can be compared to the shape of an “elongated bean”.
Seeing that the high angle of attack of their wings, insects do not use the lift force produced by the Venturi effect as birds. Their wings are constantly in stall mode. They use the mechanism of capture wake.

Scientific field

Biology

Country

Belgium

Contestants

Florence Bridoux
Marylen Sun
Ihssane Azzam