據(jù)2月5日的《科學(xué)》雜志報道說，新的研究打消了人們認為的昆蟲的遷徙只不過是受到風力的驅(qū)使的想法,，它披露了這些昆蟲的飛行行為的復(fù)雜性類似于鳥類的遷徙飛行,。
根據(jù)所搜集到的雷達對天空中遷徙飛行的昆蟲進行掃描的數(shù)據(jù)，Jason Chapman 及其同僚顯示,，在高空飛行的蛾子和蝴蝶能夠選擇有利的風向并糾正其方向的偏移,，這些策略可使昆蟲所覆蓋的地面最大化，并使它們的飛行時間得到最佳化,。 研究人員還說,，人們了解并預(yù)測這種遷徙策略的能力會變得越來越重要，因為許多遷徙飛行的昆蟲是農(nóng)業(yè)上重要的害蟲,，并且隨著全球氣候的變化,，這些昆蟲越來越多地向更北的緯度遷飛。 研究人員將在夜間高空飛行的遷徙性飛蛾的飛行行為放到一個模擬無生命,、靠風傳播的顆粒的模型之中,，旨在評估這些昆蟲所用策略的功效。
Chapman及其同僚觀察到,，飛蛾在8小時的時間段內(nèi)可比漂移的顆粒平均多飛行約60英里（100公里）,，而且總的來說，這些飛蛾所飛行的距離要多出40%,。 綜上所述,，這些結(jié)果證明，遷徙性的昆蟲能夠選擇快速,、有利的季節(jié)性順風來進行它們長距離飛行中的大部分,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Science 5 February 2010: DOI: 10.1126/science.1182990
Flight Orientation Behaviors Promote Optimal Migration Trajectories in High-Flying Insects
Jason W. Chapman,1,* Rebecca L. Nesbit,1,2 Laura E. Burgin,3,4 Don R. Reynolds,1,5 Alan D. Smith,1 Douglas R. Middleton,3 Jane K. Hill2
Many insects undertake long-range seasonal migrations to exploit temporary breeding sites hundreds or thousands of kilometers apart, but the behavioral adaptations that facilitate these movements remain largely unknown. Using entomological radar, we showed that the ability to select seasonally favorable, high-altitude winds is widespread in large day- and night-flying migrants and that insects adopt optimal flight headings that partially correct for crosswind drift, thus maximizing distances traveled. Trajectory analyses show that these behaviors increase migration distances by 40% and decrease the degree of drift from seasonally optimal directions. These flight behaviors match the sophistication of those seen in migrant birds and help explain how high-flying insects migrate successfully between seasonal habitats.
1 Plant and Invertebrate Ecology Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ, UK.
2 Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5YW, UK.
3 Met Office, FitzRoy Road, Exeter EX1 3PB, UK.
4 School of Geography, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX4 8RJ, UK.
5 Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TB, UK.
