Many insects and small birds are capable of beating their wings extremely quickly, at rates over 200 beats per second. However, very few creatures can sustain such high frequencies for any length of time. Generally, the smaller the animal, the faster it can flap its wings. The high wingbeat frequency allows tiny creatures to hover and maneuver precisely. So what has a wing beat of around 200 beats per second? Let’s explore some of the fastest-flapping flyers in the animal kingdom.
The Midge
One insect that is capable of reaching 200 wing beats per second is the midge. Midges are a type of small fly or gnat measuring around 1 to 5 mm in length. There are many different midge species, and they are found all over the world near water sources.
Midges beat their slender wings at incredibly high speeds to be able to hover in place. Their wingbeat frequency has been recorded to reach as high as 1000 beats per second, but a more typical range is 200-500 beats/sec when hovering. This allows them to precisely control their position, making it easier to find mates, siphon liquid food, and avoid being swatted.
The midge’s tiny size and lightweight wings contribute to its ability to flap at such rapid rates. Slow motion analysis reveals that midge wings move in a circular figure-eight pattern during each beat. The wings are linked together so that when one wing moves up, the other moves down. This coordination allows the midge to generate the aerodynamic forces needed to hover.
So with wing beat frequencies up to 1000 Hz, midges certainly qualify as one of the fastest-flapping flyers capable of reaching 200 wingbeats per second. Their robust flight abilities enable midges to thrive in areas near lakes and rivers across the globe.
The Enallagma Damselfly
Another contender for the 200 wingbeats per second distinction is the Enallagma damselfly. Damselflies belong to the suborder Zygoptera in the insect order Odonata, which includes dragonflies. There are over 300 species of Enallagma damselflies, and they can be found around lakes, ponds, and slow streams throughout North and South America.
Enallagma damselflies have long, slender abdomens and wings that can flap from 20 to 225 times per second. Wingbeat frequency varies depending on what the damselfly is doing. Cruising flight requires lower frequencies of about 20-40 Hz, while hovering to feed demands the upper end of their capabilities.
High speed photography has revealed some of the wing motions that allow Enallagma damselflies to beat their wings up to 225 times per second. Their two sets of wings move independently, allowing for subtle alterations in force generation. Smallmplitude vibrations minimize the inertial power required to move the wings at such high speeds.
So while midges may be the champions of wingbeat frequency, Enallagma damselflies also have the ability to reach the 200 beats per second mark, putting them in the ranks of the fastest-flapping fliers. This speed allows them to adeptly control their position while hunting above the water.
The Southern Emerald Dragonfly
The Southern Emerald dragonfly is a larger cousin of the damselfly found throughout Australia that is also capable of remarkably high wingbeat frequencies. With a wingspan around 7 cm, the Southern Emerald dwarfs tiny midges. However, it can rapidly flap its four wings up to 230 beats per second as it engages in aerial dogfights or hovers while hunting.
The Southern Emerald achieves these rapid wing movements using several adaptations. Its wing muscles have an unusually well-developed blood supply, delivering oxygen critical for powering sustained muscle contraction. The wings also have fewer veins than other dragonfly species, decreasing their inertia to enable faster flapping.
Interestingly, the Southern Emerald’s wings sometimes beat completely out of phase during high-speed maneuvers. The front and hind wings are able to operate independently, each generating its own vortices to produce the required aerodynamic forces. This independent control enables remarkable agility and precision.
So despite its larger size, the Southern Emerald can flap its wings just as quickly as tiny midges, putting it in the 200 beats per second club. This allows it to hover and dart swiftly as it hunts or competes for mates in the airspace above Australian waters.
The Cuban Emerald Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are famous for their ability to hover in place by rapidly beating their wings back and forth. The Cuban Emerald hummingbird has one of the highest known wingbeat frequencies of any hummingbird, enabling it to generate the force required to hover despite its small size.
This hummingbird is endemic to Cuba. At just 6-7 cm long, it is one of the smallest hummingbird species in the world. It feeds on flower nectar and tiny insects using a specialized, straw-like tongue that plunges deep into flowers. Cuba is home to many endemic flower species that coevolved with the Cuban Emerald.
High speed camera studies have revealed that the Cuban Emerald can beat its wings an astonishing 200-205 times per second as it hangs suspended sipping nectar. Other hummingbird species have been documented reaching similar wingbeat frequencies. This allows the Cuban Emerald to precisely maintain its position in the air even in windy conditions.
The hummingbird’s wing anatomy is highly specialized for its aerobatic feeding strategy. Asymmetrical wings rotate like propellers during each beat. Muscles make up 25-30% of the bird’s tiny body weight. Antioxidants and fats provide energy to power sustained shivering contractions.
So although it weighs just a couple grams, the Cuban Emerald can maintain wingbeat frequencies matching or exceeding those of much smaller insects. This elite maneuverability gives the Cuban Emerald access to nutritional resources unavailable to other birds, and has enabled hummingbirds to diversify and flourish.
Conclusion
Very few creatures can truly beat their wings 200 times per second. Certain insects like midges and damselflies can reach these rates, which allow them to precisely hover and maneuver. The Southern Emerald dragonfly is larger than these insects yet can still flap its wings up to 230 Hz.
Among vertebrates, the Cuban Emerald hummingbird is one of the only species that can match these extreme insect wingbeat frequencies. Its specialized physiology allows it to hover by beating its wings over 200 times per second despite weighing several grams.
So if you ever observe a tiny flying creature seemingly suspended in air and producing only a faint buzz as it rapidly beats translucent wings, chances are it is an insect or hummingbird flapping at rates of around 200 beats per second! These elite flyers have evolved the physiological tools necessary to take advantage of ecological niches requiring exquisite aerial control. Their dizzying wing movements provide a dazzling glimpse of nature’s ingenuity.