Insects are able to fly using two sets of muscles. Other muscles are attached directly to the base of the wings which control the direction of flight. The fastest flying insects are dragonflies who can fly as fast as 97 kilometres per hour. Butterflies and locusts are able to fly continuously for about 160 kilometres using food energy stored in their bodies. Large winged butterflies can beat their wings 4 - 20 times per second and houseflies beat their wings around 200 times per second!