the wing patterns of a dragonfly !!!

Identify this !!

 

Our school days were lost without our understanding many things – remember this English poem of William Wordsworth (1770 – 1850), an English romantic poet whose magnum opus is considered to be ‘the Prelude’ : this was ‘butterfly’ 

I'VE watched you now a full half-hour;

Self-poised upon that yellow flower

.. .. .. ..

I know not if you sleep or feed.

How motionless!--not frozen seas 

The opening lines  reveals his apparent entrancement.  It  perhaps was no poem on a simple butterfly, but more of what it could represent ! It's fragile, delicate, short lifespan and every moment could be it's last, with all the "predators" out there.  Though we take solace planning longer things, our life too is fragile… 

Not as attractive is the one that we see generally when it is cloudy and about to rain – a  dragonfly,  an insect belonging to the order Odonata, having hindwing broader than front wing. Adult dragonflies are characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, sometimes with coloured patches and an elongated body. Dragonflies are agile fliers, while damselflies have a weaker, fluttery flight.  Have seen blue, green and black dragonflies – and rare  red ones too. 

Dragonflies are predators, both in their aquatic larval stage, when they are known as nymphs or naiads, and as adults. Several years of their lives are spent as nymphs living in fresh water; the adults may be on the wing for just a few days or weeks. Found nearer water bodies, they  have a uniquely complex mode of reproduction involving indirect insemination, delayed fertilization, and sperm competition.   Adult  dragonflies eat other insects and can consume hundreds of mosquitoes in one day! They are valued predators, since they help control populations of harmful insects. Dragonflies are usually found around lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands because their larvae, known as "nymphs", are aquatic. Adult dragonflies do not bite or sting humans, though nymphs are capable of delivering a painful but harmless bite. 

The wings are unique,  not flat, but deliberately shaped. The grooves on the surface create tiny cyclones on the upper surface during flight, creating substantial lift. Dragonfly wings possess great stability and high load-bearing capacity during flapping flight, glide, and hover. Scientists have been intrigued by them and have carried out research for biomimetic applications. 

The wings of dragonflies are mainly composed of veins and membranes, a typical nanocomposite material. The veins and membranes have a complex design within the wing that give rise to whole-wing characteristics which result in dragonflies being supremely versatile, maneuverable fliers. The wing structure, especially corrugation, on dragonflies is believed to enhance aerodynamic performance. Dragonflies can move and rotate each of their four wings independently. Thanks to this unique ability, these insects can fly backwards, up and down. They can turn on a dime and can hover, all contributing to their great flying abilities. 

There are a number of key structures in the wing which contribute to the manner in which it bends in flight and therefore help to facilitate the wing’s aerodynamic properties.   The vein structure of the dragonfly has an optimum shape which is adapted to the forces acting at the location of the vein. The leading edge consists primarily of rectangular frames whereas the trailing surface is largely formed of hexagons and other polygons with more than four sides, which guarantee wing stability against loading.     

If you are wondering what the photo at the start represents – it is a dragonfly sitting on a wire, and only its wings are fully visible !!

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
30.8.2025