4 ms·
It's cool to see examples comparing the agility of a 4 winged insect compared to 2 wing/diptera. Think about this sometimes when seeing human (2 leg) running/pl
by dieselgate 4y ago
It's cool to see examples comparing the agility of a 4 winged insect compared to 2 wing/diptera. Think about this sometimes when seeing human (2 leg) running/playing with a dog (4 leg). Dogs and other 4 leggers can make some insane lateral movements
- adrian_b 4y agoDragonflies have very different wing muscles in comparison with almost all other 4 winged insects, which allow them to move each wing independently and with great precision. Except for dragonflies, all the other insects which are agile fliers achieve their agility by using only 2 wings, because 4 wings that are not exquisitely controlled are a hindrance, not an asset. This is done by either not using one wing pair for flying, as in flies, or by having a mechanical linkage between the 2 wing pairs, making them work like a single pair, as in wasps or hawk moths. While most flies are no match for a dragonfly, there is a fly family, the robber flies, which look like dragonflies with 2 wings (i.e. they have big heads with big eyes and a long narrow body, though not as long and narrow as most of the less stocky dragonflies). The robber flies routinely eat dragonflies, catching them easily during the flight.