Agility constraints suppress heavy weapons in airborne insect fighters

Evidence

Cicada-killer wasps may lack big weapons for a second reason, too. For many insects that fight in the air, agility and maneuverability matter even more than strength or size. Big weapons may hinder mobility in these fights in much the same way that weapons impede speed in predators. Many wasps, dragonflies, damselflies, and butterflies fight vicious, acrobatic airborne battles, and almost all of these species lack elaborate weapons. Part of this, no doubt, is due to unpredictability arising from scrambles; the rest is likely balancing selection arising from the need for agility. — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 729

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Aerial arms races favor speed and agility over sheer size; Extreme weapons across many insect species stunt eyes, wings, antennae, and testes — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 297; Human spear-point size is constrained by shaft balance and penetration requirements — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 100 (+2 more)

Related

• Aerial arms races favor speed and agility over sheer size (similarity 0.90)
• Extreme weapons across many insect species stunt eyes, wings, antennae, and testes (similarity 0.84)
• Mobile resources deny weapons a cost-effective performance advantage (similarity 0.80)
• Aircraft arms races favored speed and maneuverability over size (similarity 0.79)
• Cat weapons stayed moderate because agility and speed offset killing power (similarity 0.79)
• Weapon size is favored when males defend resources females need (similarity 0.78)
• Males evolve big weapons to defend resources that females visit (similarity 0.78)