Insects first evolved flight 330 to 400 million years ago, and then diversified to become the species-rich group on the planet (Marden & Kramer, 1994).
The ability to fly, although energetically expensive, created many new opportunities for insects, many of them behaviourally . One of the main advantages is the capacity to occupy new ecological niches that are inaccessible to flightless insects, greatly reducing competition and vastly increasing species fitness. The image on the left demonstrates a bee collecting pollen from a flower, a food source that would have been hard to reach prior to the development of wings.
The ability to fly, although energetically expensive, created many new opportunities for insects, many of them behaviourally . One of the main advantages is the capacity to occupy new ecological niches that are inaccessible to flightless insects, greatly reducing competition and vastly increasing species fitness. The image on the left demonstrates a bee collecting pollen from a flower, a food source that would have been hard to reach prior to the development of wings.
New mating techniques also resulted from the evolution of flight, as can be seen in these two hoverflies. The ground is occupied by many predators and other competing individuals, making the air a safe place to copulate. It also enables the eggs to be laid in an isolated area, away from any potential threats.
Another advantage of flight is the ability to migrate and escape undesirable climactic conditions. This behaviour is seen in many butterfly species, but the most spectacular example being the migration of the monarch butterfly (Malcolm, 1987), who are the only species that travel from south to north like a bird.
Flying clearly offers many advantages, but how did this evolve? How did insects come to have wings in the first place?
Another advantage of flight is the ability to migrate and escape undesirable climactic conditions. This behaviour is seen in many butterfly species, but the most spectacular example being the migration of the monarch butterfly (Malcolm, 1987), who are the only species that travel from south to north like a bird.
Flying clearly offers many advantages, but how did this evolve? How did insects come to have wings in the first place?