Slowest insect wing beat

The slowest wing beat of any insect is 300 per minute or five times a second by the European swallowtail butterfly (Papilio machaon).

At the other end of the scale, the fastest insect wing beat is 62,760 flaps per minute by a tiny midge of the genus Forcipomyia (species unknown). This is based on a frequency of 1,046 Hz identified by scientist Olavi Sotavalta in 1947 who conducted extensive research into insect-wing movements.