News Physics

These insects fly with their legs. Physics explains how

Like dandelion fluff, the insects’ legs can take advantage of updrafts to fly high

A insect with long, sleder black-and-white legs

Phantom crane flies use their long legs to fly, holding their wings still as they float on updrafts.

Víctor Ortega Jiménez

By Emily Conover

DENVER — For these insects, flight is all in the legs.

Phantom crane flies float lazily on breezes, their six long legs splayed and wings held utterly still. Wind tunnel experiments are beginning to reveal how they stay aloft.