Form and movement

In the commencement of the module we were asked to select an insect of our choice and interest and study the form of it. As the exercise progressed we chose a specific part of the insect that interest us the most. My insect was a Ladybug. The most fascinating thing I found in a Ladybug was the flying process of it.

Now to explain the process which I showed through my physical models.

A ladybug has wings which are four times the size of its own body. The wings are extremely intricate and delicate therefore the ladybug has a protective covering called the elytra to protect them. The elytra opens from a joint and unfolds the wings. The wings start fluttering and the ladybug hovers in the air for 5-7 secs and then start flying forward. The wings are independent so one can move back and forth and the other up and down and that's how it changes it direction. It can fly upto 2 hours.

After it's flight it closes it's elytra in the same way and uses it's abdomen and moves it up and down to intricately fold the wings back into the elytra.

FASCINATING RIGHT!