Scientist Adrian Smith has, for the first time, captured the take-off of some insects in super-slow motion, showing not just their intricate wing movements, but the details of their bodies as well. And, with this guy, that's just the start! Ants, anyone?
Insect Flight: Capturing Takeoff & Flying at 3,200 FPS - The 9-minute video showcases the amazing unity-in-diversity of styles of 11 different flying insects taking off and flying. To help you find your favorites later, here's when each insect appears:
plume moth – 01:17
firefly – 01:20
painted lichen moth – 02:32
leafroller moth – 03:14
rosy maple moth – 03:31
common stonefly (video ID incorrect, but he corrected in the comments) – 04:00
mayflies – 05:14
fishfly – 06:07
aphid – 07:00
scorpionfly – 07:42
lacewing – 08:10
Ant Lab - A YouTube Channel of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences & North Carolina State University managed by Dr. Adrian Smith, who made the Insect Flight videos above. He makes most of these other videos, which cover all kinds of other topics. Get a closeup look at the wonders of ants, mealybugs, jumping maggots, slime-eating insects, and more! Below are a few links to Ant Lab videos to get you started.
