sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Ever wonder how a dragonfly flies? Well, if you have this is how. A dragonfly flies by flapping its four large, thin and transparent wings. If you've ever felt them they feel like they are made from clear sandpaper.

Dragonflies are able to move each of their four wings independently. They can flap each wing up and down, and rotate their wings forward and back on an axis faster than any jet plane fighter pilot could even think to move the joystick. They can move straight up or down, fly backward, stop and hover, and make hairpin turns at full speed or in slow motion. And fast...? Oh, yeah! They can move forward at speeds of nearly thirty miles an hour. If you've ever watched them they can be gone in a flash. Their speed and agility gives them superiority in the air over their prey which they can catch in mid-flight.

So, how do they do this? Well, this is a magnified view of those individual muscles that work in unison or independently to beat or twitch the wing along with others attached to it and it happens faster than we can blink an eye. Pretty cool, isn't it?

(Download)

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

An interesting picture, with all manner of abstract shapes and colors.
It is mesmerizing to watch them as they troll in the breeze for prey, and then suddenly darting over to take something.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Excellent shot! Way cool!

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, Mark. It's the Eastern Pondhawk that we found expired and dried up in our sunroom and I try to make the most out of my finds so I focused on it wing connection structure for I found the pattern to be quite interesting when viewed under magnification.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, Quixdraw. It's quite warming to know that others enjoy seeing them.

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

That is an impressive image Gary and an interesting commentary.

diclam Loc: Red Lake Falls, MN

Great info and picture, Gary! I read an article recently written by a scientist that claims the dragonfly is a real marvel in the bug world for their flying abilities and also for their hunting abilities. He claims that when a dragonfly locks into a target it has a 95% kill ratio! Who studies something like that???

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, Brenda. Retirement has allowed me to enjoy what I want as well as to learn more about what I want....between naps and making coffee, of course.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Perhaps dragonflies could be used to train our state-of-the-art fighter pilots or perhaps better yet, we could find a way to attach tiny explosives to them and train them to think of the enemy aircraft as mosquitos...! No, on second thought, we would not want to harm our precious dragonflies.

Moondoggie Loc: Southern California

You are right, very cool creature and thanks for sharing.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, glad to know that you enjoyed seeing it.