Dynamic motion of a butterfly Argyronome laodice in ground take-off flight

Abstract

Consecutive images of a butterfly in ground take-off flight during a complete cycle were acquired using a high-speed camera, and their kinematic characteristics were analyzed quantitatively. The test butterflies took off from the ground by a fling-and-clap motion in an inclined stroke plane. The stroke duration of the fling motion was longer than that of the clap motion. The altitude was increased largely during the fling motion. Several important parameters governing the take-off flight mechanism were extracted. The dynamic behavior of a butterfly in ground take-off flight was described in terms of the characteristic take-off and flapping parameters. The photographic observation and experimental data obtained in this study would be useful in the analysis of unsteady insect aerodynamics.