Talk:Insect flight

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[edit] Some observations

Perhaps the "current research" section ends with too many open-ended questions. This makes it read a bit like an essay, not an encyclopedia entry. Also, the "basic mechanics" section might be a little too technical as it is for many viewers. Not sure how to best improve this, though. Jacoplane 20:05, 13 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] restructured, but really could use illustrations

Hopefully the inclusion of the actual flight mechanics, and the relegation of the aerodynamics material to the "aerodynamics" section will improve the situation. Ultimately, the inability to insert nice, public domain illustrations hampers pages like this one, and maybe someone can address this in the future. Dyanega 04:26, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Evolution

How did insect flight evolve in the first place -- is there any research? Presumably the insect wing started off as some non flight related structure, then became useful for gliding and later for flying. In birds and bats the wings of course are modified legs. I would guess that's not the case in insects. Was the wing originally perhaps some kind of temperature regulating structure? -- Rsholmes 17:30, 14 August 2006 (UTC)

  • I've seen a speculative theory of wing evolution in some textbook; I can't recall off the top of my head what it is, but I'll try to get info and a citation ASAP. - Rynne 16:26, 31 August 2006 (UTC)
    • I found a book that addresses this and have used it as a source to edit the article. -- Rsholmes 17:17, 4 January 2007 (UTC)