Spaces between insects in laboratory swarms move like insects in natural swarms

Abstract

Even though diluteswarms of flying insects are mostly empty space no studies have reported on the dynamics of the spaces between swarming insects. Here I show that the spaces between insects in laboratory swarms exhibit long range (maximal) correlations and novel dynamic scaling in common with insects in natural swarms. Spaces within laboratory swarms therefore move like insects in natural swarms. The converse is also true. I thereby unify seemingly disparate behaviours as long range correlations between individuals are absent in laboratory swarms but present in natural swarms. With the aid of stochastic trajectory models I show that long range (maximal) correlations and dynamic scaling arise generally and are not indicative of fine tuning. These results call for a re-evaluation of the importance of correlations and scaling in collective behaviours.