Impact of Different Developmental Instars on Locusta migratoria Jumping Performance

Ontogenetic locomotion research focuses on the evolution of locomotion behavior in different developmental stages of a species. Unlike vertebrates, ontogenetic locomotion in invertebrates is poorly investigated. Locusts represent an outstanding biological model to study this issue. They are hemimeta...

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Main Authors: Xiaojuan Mo, Donato Romano, Mario Milazzo, Giovanni Benelli, Wenjie Ge, Cesare Stefanini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:Applied Bionics and Biomechanics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/2797486
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author Xiaojuan Mo
Donato Romano
Mario Milazzo
Giovanni Benelli
Wenjie Ge
Cesare Stefanini
author_facet Xiaojuan Mo
Donato Romano
Mario Milazzo
Giovanni Benelli
Wenjie Ge
Cesare Stefanini
author_sort Xiaojuan Mo
collection DOAJ
description Ontogenetic locomotion research focuses on the evolution of locomotion behavior in different developmental stages of a species. Unlike vertebrates, ontogenetic locomotion in invertebrates is poorly investigated. Locusts represent an outstanding biological model to study this issue. They are hemimetabolous insects and have similar aspects and behaviors in different instars. This research is aimed at studying the jumping performance of Locusta migratoria over different developmental instars. Jumps of third instar, fourth instar, and adult L. migratoria were recorded through a high-speed camera. Data were analyzed to develop a simplified biomechanical model of the insect: the elastic joint of locust hind legs was simplified as a torsional spring located at the femur-tibiae joint as a semilunar process and based on an energetic approach involving both locomotion and geometrical data. A simplified mathematical model evaluated the performances of each tested jump. Results showed that longer hind leg length, higher elastic parameter, and longer takeoff time synergistically contribute to a greater velocity and energy storing/releasing in adult locusts, if compared to young instars; at the same time, they compensate possible decreases of the acceleration due to the mass increase. This finding also gives insights for advanced bioinspired jumping robot design.
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spelling doaj-art-e34d270fb0dc4028951e182aabf16c5d2025-08-20T03:21:07ZengWileyApplied Bionics and Biomechanics1176-23221754-21032020-01-01202010.1155/2020/27974862797486Impact of Different Developmental Instars on Locusta migratoria Jumping PerformanceXiaojuan Mo0Donato Romano1Mario Milazzo2Giovanni Benelli3Wenjie Ge4Cesare Stefanini5School of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 710072 Xi’an, ChinaThe BioRobotics Institute, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56025 Pisa, ItalyThe BioRobotics Institute, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56025 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalySchool of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 710072 Xi’an, ChinaThe BioRobotics Institute, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56025 Pisa, ItalyOntogenetic locomotion research focuses on the evolution of locomotion behavior in different developmental stages of a species. Unlike vertebrates, ontogenetic locomotion in invertebrates is poorly investigated. Locusts represent an outstanding biological model to study this issue. They are hemimetabolous insects and have similar aspects and behaviors in different instars. This research is aimed at studying the jumping performance of Locusta migratoria over different developmental instars. Jumps of third instar, fourth instar, and adult L. migratoria were recorded through a high-speed camera. Data were analyzed to develop a simplified biomechanical model of the insect: the elastic joint of locust hind legs was simplified as a torsional spring located at the femur-tibiae joint as a semilunar process and based on an energetic approach involving both locomotion and geometrical data. A simplified mathematical model evaluated the performances of each tested jump. Results showed that longer hind leg length, higher elastic parameter, and longer takeoff time synergistically contribute to a greater velocity and energy storing/releasing in adult locusts, if compared to young instars; at the same time, they compensate possible decreases of the acceleration due to the mass increase. This finding also gives insights for advanced bioinspired jumping robot design.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/2797486
spellingShingle Xiaojuan Mo
Donato Romano
Mario Milazzo
Giovanni Benelli
Wenjie Ge
Cesare Stefanini
Impact of Different Developmental Instars on Locusta migratoria Jumping Performance
Applied Bionics and Biomechanics
title Impact of Different Developmental Instars on Locusta migratoria Jumping Performance
title_full Impact of Different Developmental Instars on Locusta migratoria Jumping Performance
title_fullStr Impact of Different Developmental Instars on Locusta migratoria Jumping Performance
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Different Developmental Instars on Locusta migratoria Jumping Performance
title_short Impact of Different Developmental Instars on Locusta migratoria Jumping Performance
title_sort impact of different developmental instars on locusta migratoria jumping performance
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/2797486
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AT giovannibenelli impactofdifferentdevelopmentalinstarsonlocustamigratoriajumpingperformance
AT wenjiege impactofdifferentdevelopmentalinstarsonlocustamigratoriajumpingperformance
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