As in many other insects, the lift generated by butterflies is more than can be accounted for by steady-state, non-transitory aerodynamics. Studies using Vanessa atalanta in a wind tunnel show that they use a wide variety of aerodynamic mechanisms to generate force. These include wake capture, vortices at the wing edge, rotational mechanisms and the Weis-Fogh 'clap-and-fling' mechanism. Butterflies are able to change from one mode to another rapidly.
As in many other insects the lift generated by butterflies is more than can be accounted for by steady-state non-transitory aerodynamics Studies using Vanessa atalanta in a wind tunnel show that they use a wide variety of aerodynamic mechanisms to generate force These include wake capture vortices at the wing edge rotational mechanisms and the Weis-Fogh 'clap-and-fling' mechanism Butterflies are able to change from one mode to another rapidly