Damselflies show abrupt, darting flight, which is the envy of aero-engineers. This amazing ability is used both to capture prey and, by males, to establish territories that can attract females. Insects are ectothermic, so maintaining this flying ability in the face of fluctuating environmental changes is a major challenge. Furthermore, body size has both a direct effect on manoeuvrability and an indirect effect, through its impact on heat retention. Two Japanese researchers from Kyoto University, Yuka Samejima and Yoshitaka Tsubaki, have studied how body size and temperature affect flight ability in this stunning insect.
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