To test whether jumping launches moths into the air, take-off by 58 species, ranging in mass from 0.1 to 220 mg, was captured in videos at 1000 frames s−1. Three strategies for jumping were identified. First, rapid movements of both middle and hind legs provided propulsion while the wings remained closed. Second, middle and hind legs again provided propulsion but the wings now opened and flapped after take-off. Third, wing and leg movements both began before take-off and led to an earlier transition to powered flight. The middle and hind legs were of similar lengths and were between 10 and 130% longer than the front legs. The rapid depression of the trochantera and extension of the middle tibiae began some 3 ms before similar movements of the hind legs, but their tarsi lost contact with the ground before take-off. Acceleration times ranged from 10 ms in the lightest moths to 25 ms in the heaviest ones. Peak take-off velocities varied from 0.6 to 0.9 m s−1 in all moths, with the fastest jump achieving a velocity of 1.2 m s−1. The energy required to generate the fastest jumps was 1.1 µJ in lighter moths but rose to 62.1 µJ in heavier ones. Mean accelerations ranged from 26 to 90 m s−2 and a maximum force of 9 g was experienced. The highest power output was within the capability of normal muscle so that jumps were powered by direct contractions of muscles without catapult mechanisms or energy storage.
ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
RESEARCH ARTICLE|
01 January 2015
Jumping mechanisms and strategies in moths (Lepidoptera)
M. Burrows,
M. Burrows
*
Department of Zoology
, University of Cambridge
, Cambridge CB2 3EJ
, England
*Author for Correspondence: Telephone: +44 (0)1223 336628 Email: mb135@hermes.cam.ac.uk
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M. Dorosenko
M. Dorosenko
Department of Zoology
, University of Cambridge
, Cambridge CB2 3EJ
, England
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M. Burrows
*
Department of Zoology
, University of Cambridge
, Cambridge CB2 3EJ
, England
M. Dorosenko
Department of Zoology
, University of Cambridge
, Cambridge CB2 3EJ
, England
*Author for Correspondence: Telephone: +44 (0)1223 336628 Email: mb135@hermes.cam.ac.uk
Received:
06 Feb 2015
Accepted:
31 Mar 2015
Online ISSN: 1477-9145
Print ISSN: 0022-0949
© 2015. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd
2015
J Exp Biol jeb.120741.
Article history
Received:
06 Feb 2015
Accepted:
31 Mar 2015
Currently Viewing Accepted Manuscript - Newer Version Available
01 Jun 2015
Citation
M. Burrows, M. Dorosenko; Jumping mechanisms and strategies in moths (Lepidoptera). J Exp Biol 2015; jeb.120741. doi: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.120741
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