Catches in wings hold, release tension: bees

1 of 2 Bee flying back to its hive with pollen / Muhammad Mah.. / License

The wings of bees and other fast flying insects provide surges of power from tiny catches, which momentarily hold wings to build up tension and then suddenly release them.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Make >
	Generate/convert energy >
	Mechanical energy

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Mechanism for increasing power delivered to a machine part Storing kinetic energy

> Visit strategy page

[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Even greater frequency of wing beat is effected in some groups by fibrillar muscle, which contracts and relaxes with such near automatic and continuous rapidity, initiated by a single nervous impulse, that the wings are seen only as a mist of movement. In addition to this, brief surges of power may be achieved by the wings being momentarily held in their up or down position by tiny catches until the build up of tension causes them to be suddenly released. Changes of speed or direction are brought about by other sets of muscles." (Wootton 1984:38)

About the inspiring organism

Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Mechanism for increasing power delivered to a machine part without increasing use of external sources of energy (e.g, fossil fuels). Storing kinetic energy.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Transportation, manufacturing, construction

References

Wootton, A. 1984. Insects of the World. Blandford. 224 p.

Content tools

Email this strategy

Curator of this page

Are you an expert on this topic? Apply to be a curator >

Comments

Thanks to Duarte Miguel Prazeres for finding and uploading these photos.

Read full comments >