Meeting Abstract
The evolutionary trend towards miniaturization of body size imposes huge constraints on insect flight. Smaller insects typically flap their wings at high frequencies to stay in air, and require powerful, fast-acting muscles to control their rapid wing movement. Dipteran, Hymenopteran and Coleopteran insects have evolved specialized myogenic muscles that power high frequency wing motion. These muscles cause thoracic vibrations, which are translated via a complex wing hinge into wing motion. In Diptera, passive mechanical linkages embedded within the thorax precisely coordinate the motion of the two wings as well as of each wing relative to the ipsilateral haltere, ensuring robust wing-haltere coordination despite changes in wingbeat frequency due to natural wear-and-tear of wings. Moreover, each wing can be unilaterally controlled by a putative clutch mechanism at the wing base. A set of approximately 18-19 neurogenic muscles underlying the wing hinge provide fine control of wing kinematics and orchestrate rapid maneuvers. To understand the mechanical basis of the clutch, we imaged the musculo-cuticular architecture of the wing hinge using X-ray micro-tomography in Sarcophagid flies. Using this technique, we can determine the relative configuration of various sclerites of the wing hinge under different wing configurations. We will describe the initial results from our studies to understand the clutch mechanism in flies.
